Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones

Dr. Sameena Rahman
  • 5.0 (38)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

As a fierce champion for women empowering women (and the people that love them), GynoGirl provides the knowledge and education to help you advocate for yourself so that you can live your best life! Dr. Sameena Rahman curates a space for exploring hormonal changes, sexual health, and pelvic wellness, while also emphasizing self-love and life improvement. Through collaborations with leading experts and the personal stories of patients, she provides a platform for knowledge-sharing while also addressing healthcare issues that have impaired women’s quality of life.  A board-certified, South-Asian Muslim-American gynecologist who specializes in sex medicine and menopause, Dr. Rahman highlights the influence of religion, culture, racial bias, and societal factors on sexual health experiences.

  1. 4D AGO

    The New Rules of Women's Health: Research Bias, Systemic Failures, and Becoming the CEO of Your Healthcare with Meghan Rabbitt

    Women were were excluded from federally funded medical research until 1993. Health journalist Meghan Rabbitt interviewed over 100 female experts to create a manifesto for women's healthcare everything from why we're still learning anatomy named after dead men to why your gynecologic history affects your heart disease risk decades later. Meghan is a health journalist who's been translating complex medical topics into accessible language for 25 years. She's spent her career asking doctors the questions patients want answered and helping women understand their bodies better. When Maria Shriver asked her to write a manifesto about women's healthcare, even with all that experience, she was shocked by what she learned. Women weren't included in federally funded medical research until 1993. Autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women, but we still don't know why. Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined, yet awareness is declining. We talk about what it means to become the CEO of your own healthcare and why that mindset matters. Meghan shares practical strategies for making the most of short doctor visits and navigating the flood of health information online. We discuss why shame keeps women from getting care, why we need to stop normalizing pain, and how perimenopause can be a window of opportunity instead of something to fear. The conversation covers everything from why your pregnancy complications matter for heart health decades later to why medical devices are still designed without women's bodies in mind. HighlightsMost doctors don't proactively discuss lifetime breast cancer risk with patients.70% of autoimmune disease patients are female, but research is severely underfunded.Anatomical eponyms like "fallopian tubes" actually increase cognitive load for medical students.Making a prioritized symptom list before appointments helps maximize limited doctor visit time.80% of the 10 million Americans with osteoporosis are women.Gynecologic history like preeclampsia impacts heart disease risk decades later. Start thinking of yourself as the CEO of your own healthcare. That means educating yourself, showing up to appointments with a prioritized list of what matters most to you, and stopping the apologizing. Your body isn't something to be ashamed of. Your symptoms aren't an inconvenience. If you're a woman of color facing additional barriers in the healthcare system, bring someone with you to appointments who can advocate alongside you. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with any woman who needs permission to stop normalizing pain and start demanding better care. Get in Touch with Meghan: Website Instagram Substack LinkedIn Get in Touch with Me: Website Instagram Youtube Substack

    50 min

  2. FEB 27

    ISSWSH 2026 Recap: Testosterone, Research Funding, and Women's Sexual Pleasure with Dr. Tami Rowen

    Sexual medicine is underfunded, misunderstood, and often dismissed. But it's also one of the most collaborative fields in healthcare. Dr. Tami Rowen recaps this year's ISSWSH conference and what it revealed about where the field is heading. Dr. Rowen is the current president elect of ISSWSH and has been instrumental in shaping sexual medicine education and research. We recorded this right after the 2026 ISSWSH conference in Long Beach, which had almost 600 attendeesone of our biggest conferences yet. We discuss the standout research from the meeting, including award winning work on sexual function after gender-affirming hysterectomy and why most top abstracts focused on sexual pleasure rather than prevention. We talk about the reality of research funding in sexual medicine, why industry support creates conflicts of interest that look bigger than they are, and how lack of NIH funding means we have almost no treatment options for conditions like vulvodynia. We also dive into testosterone therapy why it's controversial, what the data actually shows versus what social media claims, and why Dr. Rowen doesn't treat hormone levels but rather treats individuals with specific goals. We discuss body image after breast cancer surgery, lymphedema's impact on sexual function, and why technoference is contributing to the lowest rates of sex we've ever seen. HighlightsISSWSH focuses on sexual pleasure and quality of life, not just prevention of pregnancy and STIs.Research funding for vulvodynia is $4 million annually versus $800 million for breast cancerthat's one grant versus hundreds.Testosterone therapy should treat symptoms and goals, not hormone levels or deficiencies.Body image and sexual function outcomes are significantly worse after mastectomy versus lumpectomy, even though cancer outcomes are equal.Technoference (technology interference) is contributing to historically low rates of sexual activity. If you're a clinician interested in sexual medicine, consider attending the ISSWSH Fall Course for foundational education and the annual meeting for cutting-edge research. If you're a patient navigating any issues and not currently getting help, know that there are practitioners out there who want to help you. Subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with anyone who wants to learn more about sexual medicine, menopause, or women's health education. Get in Touch with Dr. Rowen Website Instagram Get in Touch with Me: Website Instagram Youtube Substack Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. GSM Collective

    49 min

  3. FEB 20

    What Is Sex Therapy? Pleasure, Shame, and Sexual Wellness with Dr. Shannon Chavez

    Most people think sex therapy means Masters and Johnson-style homework or uncomfortable demonstrations. Dr. Shannon Chavez explains what it actually is—and why sexual concerns are rarely about sex at all. They're about intimacy, attachment, and learning to feel safe in your own body. Dr. Chavez has spent her career helping individuals and couples navigate sexual shame, intimacy disorders, and compulsive behaviors through a trauma informed, non-pathologizing framework. We discuss how shame is learned, not inherent, and why the opposite of shame is acceptance. We talk about how she approaches vaginismus and pelvic pain patients in therapy, why pain can live in the body even after the physical issue is resolved, and how mental rehearsal and visualization help people reclaim pleasure. We also discuss compulsive sexual behaviors not as addiction in the traditional sense, but as intimacy disorders rooted in early trauma and attachment. Dr. Chavez explains why the sex negative addiction model has done more harm than good, how porn is designed to overconsume just like doom scrolling, and why education around healthy sexuality is more effective than abstinence only approaches. We cover pleasure literacy, the difference between healthy desire and compulsive use, and why sex should feel like play, not another item on your to-do list. HighlightsThe body keeps score even after physical pain is resolved, which is why sex therapy is essential for sexual dysfunction issues.Compulsive sexual behaviors are often rooted in early trauma, attachment issues, and lack of self-soothing skills rather than traditional addiction.The sex-negative addiction model has created more stigma and hasn't been effective healing intimacy disorders is more successful.Pleasure literacy means understanding what pleasure means to you personally, not fitting into a prescribed definition.AI companions and technology are creating more isolation, which amplifies sexual and intimacy issues. If you've been struggling with sexual shame, pain, or compulsive behaviors, know that you're not broken. These are things many people navigate at different points in our lives, and reaching out for help doesn't mean years of therapy sometimes it's just getting permission or validation from someone who understands. Get in Touch with Dr. Chavez: Website Instagram TikTok Youtube Get in Touch with Me: Website Instagram Youtube Substack

    46 min

  4. FEB 13

    Global Women's Health: Maternal Mortality, Menopause, and Cultural Barriers with Dr. Sadia Malick

    Dr. Sadia Malick has practiced medicine across four countries. She's delivered babies in the UK's best hospitals and in the mountains of Pakistan where women have nothing. She's founded a charity that's saved 8,000 mothers' lives. And she's spent her career caring for women who are told their suffering is just "the age of despair." Dr. Malick has spent her life caring for women across the UK, Pakistan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. She founded a charity that trains midwives on clean, sanitary practices and provides lifesaving interventions to pregnant women in rural Pakistan. We discuss why 50% of global maternal deaths happen in just four countries, and how evidence based measures can save lives. We also talk about how menopause presents differently across cultures and populations, the cultural barriers women face when seeking care, and why conversations about hormones and aging remain deeply stigmatized in many regions. While symptoms may vary, what's universal is how much work we still have to do whether it's PCOS and insulin resistance, young cancer survivors entering menopause without follow up care, or ensuring every woman understands why vaginal estrogen matters. This conversation is about cultural humility, global health disparities, and why education about perimenopause needs to start in schools, not at age 40. Highlights:Maternal mortality is concentrated in just four countries, but simple interventions like clean supplies and IV iron can save lives.Menopause symptoms present differently across populations South Asian women experience more joint pain and mood issues than hot flashes.Cultural expectations around fertility and aging create additional barriers for women seeking menopause care.Young cancer survivors are sent home at 23 in menopause with no follow-up care or education about long-term health risks.Vaginal estrogen reduces death risk by 70% and should be part of routine care for women over 40.The average age of suicide for women in the UK is 51, and 70% of divorces happen after menopause. Get in Touch with Dr. Malick: Substack Instagram LinkedIn Get in Touch with Me: Website Instagram Youtube Substack Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. GSM Collective

    31 min

  5. FEB 6

    POTS, MCAS, and the Overlooked Venous System with Dr. Alexis Cutchins

    Your dizziness when you stand up is real. Your pelvic pain is real. Your fatigue is real. And there's actually a connection between all of it that most doctors were never taught to look for. If you've ever been told your dizziness, palpitations, or pelvic pain is "just anxiety," this episode is for you. Dr.Dr. Alexis Cutchins is a cardiologist treating POTS and MCAS—she's willing to say 'I don't know, let's figure it out' instead of dismissing patients. We discuss what POTS actually is, how to diagnose it why 80% of her POTS patients have venous insufficiency, and how treating the veins can sometimes cure the POTS. We also talk about the connection between POTS, mast cell activation syndrome, hypermobility, and pelvic venous disease conditions that often travel together and are frequently dismissed. Dr. Alexis Cutchins explains why the venous system is a "lost organ system" that no one really learns about in med school,how left iliac vein compression (May-Thurner syndrome) can cause everything from pelvic pain to back pain and headaches Plus, we discuss women's cardiovascular health, microvascular disease, coronary vasospasm, and why women's heart attack symptoms can look completely different including neck tightness from allergies that's actually cardiac ischemia. Highlights:You don't need a tilt table test to diagnose POTS simple office based or at home tests can help identify it.First-line POTS treatment: volume expansion (drink water, eat salt), compression stockings, treating comorbid MCAS.About 80% of POTS patients have venous insufficiency treating it can dramatically improve or even cure symptoms.Pelvic venous disease is diagnosed with MRV (not CT) and treated with stenting by interventional radiologists.Women's heart attacks can present as abdominal pain, neck tightness, or jaw pain—not just chest pain.These conditions run in families mothers and daughters often share the same constellation of symptoms. If you've been dismissed for POTS, MCAS, pelvic pain, or any constellation of symptoms that don't fit into a neat diagnostic box, this episode validates what you've been experiencing. These conditions are real. They're treatable. And more doctors are finally starting to listen. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes on related topics, and share this with anyone who needs to hear that their symptoms matter. Get in Touch with Dr. Cutchins: Website Instagram Youtube Get in Touch with Me: Website Instagram Youtube Substack

    1h 5m

  6. JAN 30

    Menopause, Healthcare Access, and the Myth of Having It All with Dr. Sharon Malone

    Can you really "have it all"? Dr. Sharon Malone OB-GYN, New York Times bestselling author of Grown Woman Talk, and Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Health joins me for an honest conversation about what it really takes to balance medicine, motherhood, and everything in between. Dr. Malone and I talk about the things we don't usually say out loud. How do you balance being a great doctor, a present parent, and a supportive partner when society tells you to excel at all three simultaneously? Dr. Malone practiced medicine before and after the Women's Health Initiative, so she has a unique perspective on how hormone therapy went from being standard care to being feared and how that fear disproportionately affected women of color. We discuss why only 1% of Black women who are eligible for hormone therapy are actually on it, despite suffering the longest and most severe menopausal symptoms. We also talk about her work with Alloy Health, her new podcast The Second Opinion, and why she believes menopause is inevitable but suffering is not. Plus, we get into the uncomfortable truth about medical racism, implicit bias, and why your gut feeling matters more than your doctor's ego. HighlightsGive yourself grace in midlife perimenopause decreases your coping threshold for everything you're already juggling.Women of color carry the weight of representing their entire group, not just themselves, which adds invisible pressure.Diversity in healthcare leadership literally changes what research gets funded and what treatments get offered.Only 1% of Black women eligible for hormone therapy are actually on it, despite having more severe and longer-lasting symptoms.The "adipose tissue theory" that Black women don't need hormones because they make more estrogen on their own is completely false.Racialized medicine affects everything from endometriosis diagnosis (only thin white women?) to pain management assumptions.If your doctor gets mad that you asked for a second opinion, you need a different doctor.Guidelines are guardrails, not laws medicine requires both confidence and humility. Dr. Malone's book Grown Woman Talk is everything you need to know about navigating midlife with confidence and information. And remember: trust your gut. If something feels off, keep advocating until someone listens. I have an incredible lineup of guests coming up, so make sure you subscribe and leave a review so you never miss episodes like this one! Links: Get in touch with Dr. Malone: Website Book Instagram Podcast Get in Touch with Me: Website Instagram Youtube Substack Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. GSM Collective

    53 min

  7. JAN 23

    Are You Getting All Your Options? The Truth About Hysterectomies with Dr. Kameelah Phillips

    Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgeries for women 600,000 are performed every year in the United States. But are women truly getting all their options? Board certified OBGYN Dr. Kameelah Phillips joins me to discuss her groundbreaking book The Empowered Hysterectomy and why understanding the full history and context of this surgery is essential for every woman. In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Kameelah Phillips to discuss hysterectomies from every angle the good, the bad, and the historically traumatic. Dr. Phillips, author of The Empowered Hysterectomy, shares why she wrote a book that isn't anti-hysterectomy, but rather pro-information and pro-choice. From her origin story working at Planned Parenthood at age 15, to understanding the disturbing history of gynecology built on the experimentation of enslaved women, to counseling patients through one of the most significant decisions of their lives this episode covers it all. We also discuss the importance of true informed consent, the impact on sexual function, and why women of color are disproportionately offered hysterectomies over other treatment options. HighlightsThe birth control pill has such a bad reputation that patients reject it even though it could be the thing that helps their symptoms.The racist history behind hysterectomies continues today Black women are still being steered toward them at a much higher rate than their white counterpartsYou may not realize that your orgasm is actually coming from your cervix, which is why a conversation about sexual function should happen before surgery.Education and income doesn't protect Black women from maternal mortality.Explaining medical concepts in everyday language isn't "dumbing it down" it's ensuring patients actually understand what's happening to their bodies.Properly counseled patients who freely choose hysterectomy often experience profound liberation not just physically but sexually too. If you're considering a hysterectomy or have been told you need one, get Dr. Kameelah Phillips' book The Empowered Hysterectomy to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best decision for YOUR body. And remember you deserve time, information, and advocacy. Don't settle for less. I have an incredible lineup of guests coming up, so make sure you subscribe and leave a review so you never miss episodes like this one! Get in Touch with Dr. Phillips: Website Instagram LinkedIn Book Get in Touch with Me: Website Instagram Youtube Substack

    59 min

  8. JAN 16

    Estrogen Matters: Fighting Decades of Fear with Dr. Avrum Bluming

    The FDA told him no in 1992. They said giving estrogen to breast cancer survivors would put women at "unacceptable risk." He did the study anyway. Dr. Avrum Bluming is a medical oncologist, emeritus clinical professor of medicine at USC, former senior investigator for the National Cancer Institute, and co-author of Estrogen Matters. He's been fighting estrogen fear for over 30 years long before it was safe or popular to do so. His origin story starts with his wife. At 45, she developed breast cancer. The chemotherapy he gave her threw her into premature menopause. She couldn't sleep. She had hot flashes, night sweats, painful urination, palpitations. She couldn't remember what she'd read two pages back. And he an oncologist who had induced menopause in countless breast cancer patients—had been sympathetic but didn't know how to help them until he saw what was happening with his wife. So he started a study in 1992 to give estrogen to breast cancer survivors. The FDA denied him twice. He did it anyway. By 1997, he presented his data to 8,500 oncologists from around the world. The National Cancer Institute said it was "irresponsible" to study this. The audience challenged them. Dr. Bluming's data showed no increased risk of recurrence. We talk about the Women's Health Initiative, how the media misinterpreted the data, why the estrogen alone actually decreased breast cancer by 23% and breast cancer death by 40%, and why the box warning that just came off in November 2025 never should have been there in the first place. There are now 26 studies in the English literature on giving estrogen to breast cancer survivors. Only one showed increased risk. Four showed decreased risk. Twenty-five showed no difference. Highlights: The FDA denial story: "Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger".Why tamoxifen works better in premenopausal women (even though it raises estrogen 4-5x).The DCIS patient whose oncologist changed their tune after the box warning came off.The FDA committee member who asked "most of your patients are going to die anyway, aren't they?"showing how little some understood about breast cancer survival.When he asked if the FDA actually read his research before denying it: "Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger"—a quote that reveals everything.What actually causes breast cancer (spoiler: nobody knows). If you've been denied estrogen or hormone therapy, share this episode with your provider. Share Estrogen Matters with its 555 references. Share the data. At this point, there's overwhelming evidence showing HRT is safe and beneficial for most women. But some clinicians are still using outdated information from 2002. You deserve care based on current science, not decades-old fear. Get in Touch with Dr. Bluming: Website Instagram Study Get in Touch with Me: Website Instagram Youtube Substack Mentioned in this episode: GSM Collective The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today. GSM Collective

    59 min
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As a fierce champion for women empowering women (and the people that love them), GynoGirl provides the knowledge and education to help you advocate for yourself so that you can live your best life! Dr. Sameena Rahman curates a space for exploring hormonal changes, sexual health, and pelvic wellness, while also emphasizing self-love and life improvement. Through collaborations with leading experts and the personal stories of patients, she provides a platform for knowledge-sharing while also addressing healthcare issues that have impaired women’s quality of life.  A board-certified, South-Asian Muslim-American gynecologist who specializes in sex medicine and menopause, Dr. Rahman highlights the influence of religion, culture, racial bias, and societal factors on sexual health experiences.

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