Just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s normal. You do NOT have to accept pain, discomfort, and limitations when it comes to sex, pregnancy, and childbirth as “just the way things are.”

Dr. Ariana Cesare, a pelvic and obstetric physical therapist, is joining us on this episode of Playing With Fire to bust that myth, and many others, when it comes to pain and pleasure.

This conversation is for every body, including men, trans people, and people with disabilities (pregnancy affects 100% of the population—we were all born, and some of us will give birth too!).

In this episode, we talk about:

— Why pelvic floor physical therapy is critically important (and criminally underutilized) during pregnancy and postpartum

— The truth about pain during sex - and why it's never something you just have to accept

— How to prepare your body for birth (hint: it's like training for any other athletic event!)

— The role of pelvic floor muscles in everything from pleasure to incontinence

— Why tampons, speculums, and medical exams should not be painful

— Game-changing tools like dilators and Ohnuts thats make penetrative sex more comfortable

— How to talk to partners about adjustments during sex

— Why pelvic health matters for everyone - including men, trans people, and people with disabilities

— The importance of addressing both physical and psychological aspects of pelvic pain

Resources mentioned in this episode:

— Book a FREE consultation with Dr. Cesare

— Follow Dr. Caesare on Instagram @kegels_and_kettlebells

— Follow her on TikTok @DrCesare

— Slippery Stuff lubricant for sensitive skin

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Music: Dance of Felt by ⁠Blue Dot Sessions