Orgasm After Menopause: Vibrators, Testosterone & Solutions with Dr. Lauren Streicher (Pt. 2)

In our last episode of unPAUSED, we began a conversation with Dr. Lauren Streicher about orgasm, sexual function, and why these topics are still so taboo. Because there was so much to talk about, we decided to make this a two-part episode. So today, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues this conversation. 

Dr. Streicher is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the host of Dr. Streicher's Inside Information Podcast, and the creator of Come Again, a 30-episode audio series on sexuality and sexual function. She's been at the forefront of sexual medicine for decades, pushing conversations forward that most clinicians still avoid.

In this episode, we're diving into why vibrators work when nothing else does and what the research shows about vibration versus other types of stimulation. Dr. Streicher explains non-hormonal arousal creams, CBD oil for the clitoris, and whether these products actually help. We discuss the role of neurotransmitters in orgasm and walk through the FDA-approved libido drugs Addyi and Vyleesi, including why testosterone is often the preferred option for women and why pellets are problematic. Dr. Streicher breaks down the orgasm gap between men and women and explains why it actually narrows with age. She walks us through her clinical approach when a patient comes in struggling with orgasm, why pain must always be addressed first, and how to find a sexual medicine expert. We also talk about what gives her hope for the future of this field and why not every woman needs to have an orgasm for sex to be pleasurable and successful.

Guest links:

• Dr. Streicher
  
• Dr. Streicher (Instagram)
  
• COME AGAIN: Sexuality and Orgasm
• Dr. Streicher: Menopause: The Inside Info (Subtack)
  
• Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information: Menopause, Midlife, and More (Apple Podcasts)
• Lauren Streicher - Faculty Profile (Northwestern Medicine)
  
• Dr. Streicher (YouTube)

Books:

• “Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina,” by Dr. Lauren Streicher
  
• “Hot Flash Hell-A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat (Dr. Streicher's Inside Information),” by Dr. Lauren Streicher
  
• “The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy: Advice from a Gynecologist on Your Choices Before, During, and After Surgery,” by Dr. Lauren Streicher
  
• “Sex Rx: Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever,” by Dr. Lauren Streicher
  
• “She Comes First: The Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman,” by Dr. Ian Kerner
  
• “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver
  

Subscribe to COME AGAIN: Sexuality and Orgasm DrStreicher.com/comeagain         
Use code UNPAUSED20 for 20% off (This code expires Dec 23)

Gyne Hacks! (Including how to How to Get a Hands-free Free Vulvar View)

Other Resources:

• Kinsey Institute
• International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health 

Articles:

• Sexuality and Reproduction after SCI (American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
  
• The Elusive Orgasm: Princess Marie Bonaparte, The Halban-Narjani Procedure, And 20th Century Modern Art (The Journal of Urology)
  
• A Natural History of Erectile Dysfunction in Elderly Men: A Population-Based, Twelve-Year Prospective Study (Journal of Clinical Medicine)
  
• “I want to feel like I used to feel”: A qualitative study of causes of low libido in postmenopausal women (Menopause)
  
• Genital vibration for sexual function and enhancement: best practice recommendations for choosing and safely using a vibrator (Sexual and Relationship Therapy)
  
• Prevalence and correlates of female sexual dysfunction and sexual distress in reproductive-aged women: a systematic review and meta-analysis (BMC Women’s Health)