The Healing Catalyst Releasing Stigmas in Women’s Sexual Health: Understanding Hormones, Libido, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, and Shifting Away from Patriarchal Medicine with Dr. Sameena Rahman
In this episode of The Healing Catalyst, Dr. Avanti Kumar Singh sits down with Dr. Sameena Rahman—OB/GYN, sexual medicine specialist, and menopause expert—for a candid, compassionate conversation about women’s sexual health in midlife.
They explore common yet often unspoken changes like decreasing libido, hormonal shifts, painful sex, recurrent UTIs, and the mental load that can silently chip away at sexual desire. Dr. Rahman explains how hormones, mental health, and social factors intersect during midlife—and why understanding these changes is essential for reclaiming your pleasure, comfort, and agency.
From menopause and pelvic floor dysfunction to treatment options that actually work, this episode is about removing the stigma, replacing shame with science, and equipping women with the knowledge they deserve.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- (10:28) Why “our brain is our biggest sexual organ” and how mindset affects desire
- (11:53) The biopsychosocial factors that contribute to sexual dysfunction in midlife
- (12:48) How the mental load of the “sandwich years” impacts libido, especially in heteronormative relationships
- (18:41) The ripple effects of estrogen changes on mood, skin, heart health, and cognitive function
- (20:53) What Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause is, and why it matters
- (23:54) How shifts in estrogen and testosterone contribute to vaginal dryness, discomfort, and more UTIs after menopause
- (26:34) How local estrogen therapy and vaginal DHEA can improve vaginal health and even be life-saving
- (33:05) The difference between precision medicine and patriarchal medicine
- (34:09) Pelvic floor dysfunction: symptoms, treatment, and why therapy matters
- (34:53) Why your jaw and pelvis are more connected than you think
- (41:31) How hormonal birth control can affect libido and sexual function
- (47:17) The gut health-sexual health connection
- (50:54) Why knowing your anatomy is a radical act of empowerment
This episode is your guide to understanding the complex, interconnected reasons why libido often changes during midlife, and what you can do about it. From hormonal shifts and pelvic floor dysfunction to the invisible weight of emotional labor, Dr. Rahman breaks down the science, the stigma, and the solutions. Whether you’re navigating menopause, exploring treatment options, or simply ready to feel more connected to your body, this conversation offers clarity, empowerment, and hope.
About Dr. Sameena Rahman
Dr. Sameena Rahman is a board-certified OB/GYN, menopause specialist, and fellowship-trained expert in sexual medicine. She is the founder of the Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics in Chicago, where she provides compassionate, trauma-informed, evidence-based care for women at every stage of life. An ISSWSH Fellow and Certified Menopause Practitioner through the North American Menopause Society, she also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of OB/GYN at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
Previously, she served on the faculty at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, worked on international medical missions, and collaborated with the World Health Organization in Switzerland. Dr. Rahman is a member of the Forbes Health Advisory Board and the Advisory Board for Flo Health, and her expertise has been featured in Forbes Health, Cosmopolitan, USA Today, Women’s Health, Yahoo! Life, Parents.com, PopSugar, VeryWell Health, and WGN TV. She hosts the podcast Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones, where she tackles taboo topics in women’s health with clarity and candor.
Connect with Dr. Sameena Rahman:
- Instagram: @gynogirl
- Website: CGC Chicago
- Podcast: Podcast: Sex, Drugs & Hormones
- LinkedIn: Sameena Rahman, MD
- YouTube: GynoGirl TV
- International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health: https://www.isswsh.org/
Connect with Dr. Avanti:
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Resources:
- Order Dr. Avanti’s books: The Longevity Formula, The Health Catalyst
- Energy Fix Quiz: avantikumarsingh.com/quiz
- Explore more at avantikumarsingh.com
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.