Sex Care is Self Care

Dr. Lori Brotto joins Sex Care is Self Care for a powerful conversation on women’s sexual health, pleasure, and the science behind sexual wellness. Hosted by Patty Brisben, this episode explores how stress, trauma, menopause, desire, and communication all shape women’s sexual well-being—and why sexual health must be treated as whole-person health.

From her early research journey to becoming a leading voice in women’s sexual health, Dr. Brotto shares how mindfulness-based interventions transformed care for women experiencing pain, low desire, and disconnection from their bodies. She breaks down common misconceptions around libido, lubricants, aging, and pleasure, while emphasizing that healthy sexuality is defined by the individual—not by societal expectations.

Together, Patty and Dr. Brotto discuss the urgent need for better provider education, increased research funding, trauma-informed care, and accessible support for women navigating sexual health concerns. This episode is both educational and empowering—a reminder that pleasure matters, communication matters, and asking for help is a form of self-care.

Because sex care is self-care—and women deserve evidence-based care, better conversations, and better outcomes.

In this episode of Sex Care is Self Care, Founder Patty Brisben is joined by Dr. Evan Goldstein for a frank, stigma-free conversation about anal health, pleasure, and why this part of the body deserves far more care, and far less silence.

As a nationally recognized expert and founder of Bespoke Surgical, Dr. Goldstein breaks down the anatomy, common misconceptions, and real medical considerations around anal sex and anal wellness. We talk about preparation, pain, injury prevention, healing, and why so many people suffer in silence simply because no one taught them what healthy care actually looks like.

This episode challenges the shame and fear that often surround anal health and replaces them with education, harm reduction, and empowerment. Dr. Goldstein emphasizes that pleasure and safety are not opposites, and that informed, proactive care can radically improve both sexual experiences and long-term health.

Whether you’re curious, experienced, or just trying to better understand your body, this conversation is a reminder that sex care includes every body part—and everyone deserves accurate information, compassionate care, and autonomy over their pleasure.

In this episode of Sex Care is Self Care, Founder Patty Brisben is joined by Dr. Jordan Emont for an honest, expansive conversation about pleasure, intimacy, and the emotional realities that shape our sexual lives.

Dr. Emont helps us unpack how desire, communication, and connection are influenced by mental health, relationships, stress, and the stories we’ve been taught about sex and our bodies. Together, we explore what it means to move away from performance and perfection—and toward curiosity, consent, and compassion.

We talk about common barriers people face when it comes to pleasure and intimacy, why so many of us feel disconnected from our bodies, and how therapy-informed tools can help individuals and partners build safer, more satisfying sexual experiences. This episode offers both validation and practical insight, reminding us that there’s no “normal” way to experience sex, only what’s true for you.

At its core, this conversation reinforces a simple truth: sex care is self care. And tending to our emotional and relational wellbeing is just as essential as tending to our physical health.

In this episode of Sex Care is Self Care, Founder Patty Brisben sits down with Dr. Chailee Moss, a leading public health researcher and advocate, to explore the intersections of sexual health, equity, and systems-level change.

Dr. Moss brings her expertise to a powerful conversation about how research, policy, and community-centered care can work together to close gaps in sexual and reproductive health, especially for communities that have been historically underserved or dismissed. We talk about what it really means to take a trauma-informed, justice-oriented approach to sex care, and why data alone isn’t enough without lived experience and trust.

Like the SHE+ Foundation, Dr. Moss also shares how the foundation is working to shift narratives, fund bold solutions, and ensure that sexual health is treated as essential healthcare, not a luxury.

Sex Care is Self Care host Patty Brisben sits down with urologist, menopause expert, and bestselling author Dr. Kelly Casperson to talk about her powerful new book, The Menopause Moment. Together, they unpack why menopause is not a medical footnote, but a pivotal moment in women’s health, pleasure, and autonomy.

In this conversation, Patty and Dr. Casperson explore the myths and misinformation that have shaped how menopause is treated, how shame and silence impact care, and what it means to reclaim agency over our bodies as we age. They also discuss the significance of the FDA’s removal of black box warnings on vaginal estrogen, why that decision matters for patient safety and access, and how evidence-based care can radically improve quality of life.

This episode is both practical and affirming, grounded in science, lived experience, and the belief that sex care is self care at every stage of life.

https://www.sheplusfoundation.com/
https://kellycaspersonmd.com/the-menopause-moment-book/

What happens when women’s pain is ignored, dismissed, or mislabeled as “all in your head”? In this episode, Patty Brisben sits down with writer, comedian, and filmmaker Bonnie Gross, creator of the award-winning film Lady Parts, inspired by her own journey through years of misdiagnosis, medical gaslighting, and ultimate healing.

Part heartfelt and part hilarious, Lady Parts flips the script on shame and silence around women’s health—encouraging open conversations between patients, parents, and providers about bodies, pleasure, and pain. Patty and Bonnie explore what it means to advocate for yourself in a system that often doesn’t listen, how laughter can be medicine, and why saying “vagina” out loud matters.

Learn more about the film, screenings, and resources at www.ladypartsfilm.com.
Learn more about the SHE+ Foundation and its work advancing women’s sexual health at www.sheplusfoundation.com.

Presented by the SHE+ Foundation because sex care is self care, and every woman deserves to be heard.

Episode Sponsored by Marca 360 & Pure Romance.

https://bonnie-gross.com/
https://ladypartsfilm.com/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21423506/
https://letterboxd.com/film/lady-parts-2024/

"An educated patient is the best patient." - Dr. Rachel Rubin 

In this episode, SHE+ President and Chairwoman Patty Brisben sits down with Dr. Rachel Rubin, a board-certified urologist and sexual medicine specialist. As a pioneer in the field, Dr. Rubin brings unmatched attention and expertise to conditions that impact so many women, and for too long, went without a name: Genitourinary Syndrome of Lactation (GSL) and Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). 

Dr. Rubin breaks down why naming these conditions matters, how symptoms manifest, and what patients and providers can do to move past dismissal and toward better care. 

For more information on GSL, GSM, and Dr. Rubin, check out the Resource Hub at www.sheplusfoundation.com/resourcehub 

Join host Patty Brisben in this powerful conversation with Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald - Double Board-Certified Urogynecologist and OB/GYN & Gynecologic Economics (#GynEconomics) Expert! 

Did you know that a four-hour endometriosis excision surgery will be reimbursed less financially than a 30-minute orthopedic surgery? 

Together, Dr. Fitzgerald & Patty Brisben dive deep into #gyneconomics - and how hospitals make decisions that impact their bottom line, and restrict access for women's reproductive health.

https://www.sheplusfoundation.com/

In this episode, members of the SHE+ Foundation Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Christine Vaccaro & Dr. Cheryl Iglesia, join SHE+ Founder and Chairwoman Patty Brisben for a dialogue on the current state of women's sexual health. 

Together, they explore the real-time impact of federal policy shifts on clinical care, barriers to surgical access, and how patients can protect their health in uncertain times.

From the OR to Instagram, they’re breaking down complex issues with clarity and compassion.

Learn more at sheplusfoundation.com

In this episode, members of the SHE+ Foundation Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Karen Connor & Dr. Stan Althof join SHE+ Founder and Chairwoman Patty Brisben for a thoughtful dialogue on the current state of women's sexual health. 

They explore how changes in federal policy, research funding, and medical education are shaping the future of women’s sexual health.

With insights on pelvic floor therapy, mental health, and the gap between evidence-based research and clinical training, this conversation offers vital takeaways for patients, providers, and advocates alike.

Learn more at sheplusfoundation.com