Episode 373: How Sex Changes At Midlife

Explicit content warning

02/21/25 • 33 min

1 Listener

Sex changes as we age. While these changes are often small and gradual, once you hit your 40s and 50s, it’s not uncommon to start noticing bigger changes. In this episode, we’re going to talk all about sex at midlife and some of the most common sexual issues that come up during this time for women, as well as tips for dealing with them.

My guest today is Dr. Sameena Rahman, a board-certified OB/GYN, sex-med gynecologist, and menopause specialist with an academic affiliation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is the founder of the Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics, and host of the podcast Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones.

Some of the specific topics we explore include:

What are some of the most common sexual challenges faced by midlife women?
Why is it so taboo to talk about midlife sexual distress?
What do women need to know about how peri-menopause can affect your sex life?
What are the most helpful strategies for improving sex at midlife?
How can self-pleasure help in relieving peri-menopause symptoms?

You can follow Sameena on Instagram to stay updated on her work.

Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.

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Thank you to our sponsors!

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Some of the specific topics we explore include:

What are some of the most common sexual challenges faced by midlife women?
Why is it so taboo to talk about midlife sexual distress?
What do women need to know about how peri-menopause can affect your sex life?
What are the most helpful strategies for improving sex at midlife?
How can self-pleasure help in relieving peri-menopause symptoms?

You can follow Sameena on Instagram to stay updated on her work.

Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.

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Thank you to our sponsors!

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Listen and stream all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast!

Previous Episode

Episode 372: Lustful Appetites

In the previous episode, we discussed the history of food and sex, which turns out to be a truly fascinating topic! Today, we’re diving even deeper into the subject. We’re going to explore how diet culture became a way of suppressing female pleasure, how interest in fine food came to be associated with being gay, why French food has a particularly strong association with sex, and more.

I am joined once again by Rachel Hope Cleves, a professor of history at the University of Victoria and a member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada. She is the author of four award-winning nonfiction history books and one science fiction novel. Her latest book is titled “Lustful Appetites: An Intimate History of Good Food and Wicked Sex.”

Some of the specific topics we explore include:

Why did a woman’s appetite for food become a barometer for her sexuality?
When did restaurants shift from being places people primarily went for sex to places people went for food?
Where did the association between gay men and gourmet cooking come from?
How did cooking become a tool for seduction?
How is the connection between food and sex playing out today on social media?

You can check out Rachel’s website to learn more about her work.

Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.

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Thank you to our sponsors!

The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University has been a trusted source for scientific knowledge and research on critical issues in sexuality, gender, and reproduction for over 75 years. Learn about more research and upcoming events at kinseyinstitute.org or look for them on social media @kinseyinstitute.

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Listen and stream all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast!

Next Episode

Episode 374: Living with Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is one of the most distressing sexual dysfunctions. PGAD involves having near-constant feelings of unwanted arousal that make it difficult to concentrate, work, and sleep. In today’s show, we’re going to dive into what we know about PGAD and speak with a physician who frequently treats patients with this condition.

I am joined once again by Dr. Sameena Rahman, a board-certified OB/GYN, sex-med gynecologist, and menopause specialist with an academic affiliation at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. She is the founder of the Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics, and host of the podcast Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones.

Some of the specific topics we explore include:

What is persistent gentian arousal disorder? How is it clinically defined?
What is it like to live with PGAD?
How many people have PGAD, and who’s most likely to be affected?
What’s the connection between obsessive-compulsive disorder and PGAD?
What are the most effective treatments for this disorder?

You can follow Sameena on Instagram to stay updated on her work.

Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.

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Thank you to our sponsors!

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Listen and stream all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast!