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In Bed with Science: a Sex Podcast

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Rating
★★★★★
4.5
from
2 reviews
This podcast has
26 episodes
Language
English
Date created
2025/05/12
Latest episode
2026/10/06
Average duration
35 min.
Release period
24 days

Description

Sex advice is everywhere - but how much of it is rooted in or science, or reality? I’m Leigh Norén, sex therapist and host of In Bed with Science: a Sex Podcast, where we take findings from the research lab and make them helpful, and actually applicable to your sex life & relationship.

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Check latest episodes from In Bed with Science: a Sex Podcast podcast


ADHD, Attention, and Why Orgasms Are Inconsistent
2026/10/06
Around 20 to 30% of women struggle to orgasm during partnered sex. And while there are plenty of reasons that get talked about — relationship issues, technique, and types of sex — they don't necessarily explain why it's so inconsistent. Why sometimes you can come, sometimes you can't, and you can't for the life of you find the pattern. This week, I dig into a recent study that points to a factor most of us are barely looking at — and it might just be the missing piece. We explore: Why coming during partnered sex can be so inconsistent — and what the latest research can tell us about itThe surprising difference between inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD when it comes to orgasmic consistencyWhy orgasm requires sustained attention, and how our culture trains us out of the exact thing sex needs us to doThe link between neurodivergence and kink — and what it tells us about staying present during sexConcrete, science-backed ways to increase orgasm consistency during sex with a partner, ADHD symptoms or not Timestamps: 03:47 — What the research found about ADHD and orgasms 06:07 — Why your ADHD subtype matters for coming 08:43 — Why presence during sex is so hard 14:14 — How shame carries into the bedroom 16:55 — Practical ways to stay present during sex 17:46 — The surprising link between ADHD and kink The study in this episode: Exploring Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptomatology in Relation to Women's Orgasmic Consistency Published in the Journal of Sex Research by Jensen-Fogt and Pedersen. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
Stop Trying to Recreate the Honeymoon Phase — Do This Instead (Why Desire Fades in Long-Term Relationships)
2026/09/01
When couples have been together for years, boredom can start to feel like something you have to accept. You love each other, but somewhere along the way, you start wondering whether the spark left because your partner became boring — or because the relationship did. In this episode, I dig into a study on self-expansion that offers a solution to that bordeom: curiosty. And the longer you've been together, the more important it may be to keep creating moments where you get to experience each other in new ways. We explore: Why knowing your partner so well can sometimes get in the way of wanting themWhy trying to recreate the honeymoon phase usually doesn't work — and what to do insteadHow self-expanding activities can support desire and satisfaction in long-term relationshipsWhat “doing something new together” can actually look like without grand gestures, weekends away, or turning your life upside downThe catch: why one interesting date night won't carry your desire for months, and what long-term desire requires over time Timestamps: 02:14 — What the research found 05:54 — Why curiosity matters in long-term relationships 08:44 — Novelty beyond sex and techniques 14:16 — Why this matters more in longer relationships 19:49 — Small ways to bring aliveness back The study in this episode: Broadening Your Horizons: Self-Expanding Activities Promote Desire and Satisfaction in Established Romantic Relationships Published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology by Muise, Harasymchuk, Day, Bacev-Giles, Gere, and Impett. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
A Doctor Asks a Sex Therapist: Married at First Sight, Low Desire & What She Really Does All Day
2026/08/11
This week's episode is a little different. I sat down with my cousin — Dr. Chloe Vites, a GP (doctor) based in the UK — and let her ask me all the questions people usually ask me at parties, on flights, and in the DMs. Things like: Why I became a sex therapist. What I actually do in session. What it was really like filming Married at First Sight: Sweden. And the things I wish couples knew before it's too late. In this episode, we explore: The moment at 17 that made me decide this was going to be my careerWhy I chose to specialise in low desire — and what most people get wrong about who actually struggles with low libidoWhat it was really like filming Married at First Sight: Sweden (GIft vid första ögonkastet) as one of three experts, and the parts that surprised me mostThe biggest myth about desire — and why the most common assumption keeps couples stuck for yearsWhat I wish couples in crisis knew (and why I really wish they wouldn't)How I talk to my own kids about sex — and important steps not to skipThe hardest part of my work — and it isn't the topics you'd expect 01:16 — Why I became a sex therapist 03:51 — Specialising in low desire 06:28 — What sex therapy is really like 08:31 — Filming Married at First Sight Sweden (GVFÖ XL) 10:59 — The easiest & hardest parts of the job 15:59 — Being a female therapist with male clients 20:31 — How people react when they know my job (in dating & with acquaintances) 23:59 — The hardest conversation about sex for couples 28:02 — Talking to kids about sex (& how I talk to my own about it) 32:12 — What I used to believe about sex 33:30 — What people get wrong about desire 37:38 — MAFS Sweden & analysing people as an occupational hazard 40:41 — What I wish every couple knew Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
Non-Monogamy vs Monogamy: Who's Really Happier?
2026/07/14
We've been taught that monogamy is the default because it's more satisfying, more "natural". But what if that's not actually what the research says? In this episode, I dig into a major new meta-analysis of 35 studies and nearly 25,000 people that compared relationship and sexual satisfaction across monogamous and non-monogamous relationships. The findings challenge a lot of what we've assumed — and what culture has been telling us for a very long time. If you've ever wondered whether opening up your relationship might fix a mismatched desire problem — I talk about why that question matters less than the reason you're asking it, from a sex-therapist lens. We explore: What a meta-analysis of nearly 25,000 people found about satisfaction in monogamous vs non-monogamous relationshipsThe uncomfortable truth about why we elevate monogamy — and what it protects us from having to look atHow non-monogamous individuals reported slightly higher trust, and what monogamous couples can learn from how non-monogamous relationships define boundariesWhen opening up a relationship can be running away from the problem — and how to tell the differenceWhat actually predicts satisfaction in a long-term relationship Timestamps: 02:51 — Opening up as a fear response 03:49 — Main findings from the study 08:27 — Monogamy doesn’t guarantee safety 10:46 — Is it okay to flirt & where does the line go? 14:59 — Why opening up may not solve the real issue 17:48 — What predicts relationship satisfaction The study in this episode: Countering the Monogamy-Superiority Myth: A Meta-Analysis of the Differences in Relationship Satisfaction and Sexual Satisfaction as a Function of Relationship Orientation. Published in The Journal of Sex Research in 2025. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
I Tried Everything And It Was Never Enough | Mismatched Libidos
2026/06/02
A listener wrote in describing herself as a "well-scraped peanut butter jar" — nothing left to give sexually, and tired of trying. She'd had sex four days a week, spent evenings cuddling and massaging, and offered every kind of intimacy she could think of. Yet every week still brought sulking, silent treatment, and rejection tears. After two months of no sex, the pressure finally stopped — so she asked me: why would I ever go back? In this episode, I unpack what that relief is really telling us — and where to go from here. We explore: Why the relief of not having sex is usually relief from the pressure surrounding sex — and why that distinction is importantHow sulking, silent treatment, and emotional withdrawal are all examples of unhealthy relationship communication behaviours, and how they can make it impossible to say yes to sex freelyWhat happens when sex becomes a partner's primary way of feeling loved and important — and how that puts unsustainable pressure on the other personThe questions I'd ask if I were working with this couple, including when sex became this loaded and what the relationship looks like outside the bedroomWhat happens when sex becomes a partner's primary way of feeling loved — and the pressure that puts on the other partner The questions I'd ask if I were working with this couple, and why I wouldn't start with "how to get you to want more sex" Timestamps: 01:46 – The Listener's Question 02:24 – Why You're Depleted (And Why That Makes Sense) 04:18 – "Why Would I Ever Go Back?" — The Real Question 05:20 – The Relief Isn't About Sex — It's About Pressure 06:12 – What the Absence of Fighting Really Means 07:50 – Understanding the Behaviours: Sulking, Stonewalling & Withdrawal 10:19 – The Gottman Four Horsemen & Sexual Rejection 13:04 – Why "Just Try Harder" Fails the Low-Desire Partner 14:21 – What I Would Do If I Were Your Sex Therapist 17:41 – The Key Question: Do You Want to Want Sex Again? 18:59 – The Path Forward: Removing Pressure Before Rebuilding 22:58 – Summary & Takeaways 26:09 – Outro & Working with me Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
The Hidden Reason You’re Struggling to Orgasm With Your Partner
2026/05/19
Difficulty orgasming isn’t always about you. At least, not in the way you might think. In this minisode of In Bed with Science, I’m talking about one of the less discussed reasons orgasm can become harder with a partner: when your orgasm starts to feel like proof that they’re good at sex. Orgasms aren’t gifts. And when your partner’s care, effort or disappointment becomes part of the experience, pleasure can quickly turn into pressure. In this episode, we explore: Why “giving” someone an orgasm can be an unhelpful way to think about sexHow a partner’s investment in your orgasm can make it harder to relaxWhy pressure and self-monitoring can get in the way of pleasureWhat to do when orgasm has become the goal of sex Your orgasm isn’t a performance review of your partner’s skills. And it isn’t the only proof that sex was good. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
AI Vs. Therapy for Low Libido: I Put It To The Test
2026/05/05
AI is being turned to as a replacement for therapy. As a sex therapist who specialises in low libido, I wanted to know - can it actually help with something as nuanced as low sex drive in a marriage? So I put it to the test. I pretended to be a typical client of mine - a woman in a long-term relationship, struggling with low desire and shame around her turn-ons - and turned to both a trained mental health bot and ChatGPT to see what they got right, what they got wrong, and what most people would never notice was missing. We look at what the research says about AI's accuracy in sexual & mental health, why feeling understood isn't necessarily the same as actually being understood, and where AI genuinely helps versus where it might make things like low libido and relationship issues worse. In this episode, we explore: What the research reveals about how AI chatbots actually perform on sexual health and therapy scenariosThe results of my own experiment pretending to be a client struggling with low sex drive and shame around what turns her onHow AI tends to over-validate, skip the questions a sex therapist would ask, and offer solutions before it knows youHow AI can sneakily reinforce the very patterns that create low desire and sexual problems in marriage in the first placeWhen AI is a useful thought partner for relationship and sex issues, and when it falls short of what real therapy does 02:44 - My Bias as a Therapist (Let's Be Honest) 06:13 - What the Research Says: AI Chatbot Studies 08:20 - The Experiment: Testing an AI Therapy Bot 11:46 - Test 1 – The Mental Health Bot 13:24 - Test 2 – ChatGPT 20:04 - What ChatGPT Got Wrong 22:03 - Why AI Can't Replace the Therapeutic Relationship 25:54 - AI vs. Self-Help Books: Is It the Same? 31:24 - Final Takeaway: When AI Helps & When It Falls Short Today's studies: Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots for Providing Sexual Health Information: A Consensus Study Using Real-World Clinical Queries Published in BMC Public Health in 2025. A Comparison of Responses from Human Therapists and LLM-Based Chatbots Published in JMIR Mental Health in 2025. The Ability of AI Therapy Bots to Set Limits With Distressed Adolescents Published in JMIR Mental Health in 2025. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
‘Men Will Have Sex With Anything’? A Sex Therapist Breaks Down the Harmful Myth
2026/04/21
We've all heard it before: "Men always want sex". They’re simple and always raring to go. As a sex therapist specialising in low libido and mismatched desire, I know the toll these kinds of myths can take on the individual and the relationship at large. In this minisode, I break down one of the most common myths about male sexuality — and how it contributes to low desire, performance pressure, and shame. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
Low Sex Drive in Women & Mindfulness, with Dr. Lori Brotto
2026/04/07
Low desire in women is often treated as a hormonal problem or a relationship one. But what if the problem isn’t low libido persay, but rather a lost connection to your body? In this episode, I talk to psychologist and leading sex researcher Dr. Lori Brotto about the science of mindfulness and why it’s become one of the most effective psychological treatments for low desire and arousal in women. We discuss how mindfulness improves sexual wellbeing, why physical arousal and mental desire don’t always match, and why pills designed to “fix” low desire often fall short. We explore: What mindfulness actually is — and why it’s often misunderstoodWhy improving body awareness (interoception) can influence desireThe research behind mindfulness-based sex therapyWhy physical arousal and mental desire don’t always alignThe limits of medications designed to treat low desireThe role of shame and self-criticism in sexual difficultiesWhy relationship therapy alone often doesn’t resolve sexual problemsWhere to start if you’re curious about using mindfulness to reconnect with desire 02:31 - How Dr. Lori Brotto Got Into Sex Research 05:29 - What Is Mindfulness, Really? 14:34 - How Mindfulness Works for Low Desire 18:11 - Arousal Non-Concordance (& Why It Matters?) 21:49 - The Problem with Pharmaceutical Solutions 24:59 - Spontaneous vs. Responsive Desire 29:22 - Why Relationship Therapy Alone Often Isn't Enough 30:46 - The Mirror Exercise & Confronting Shame 33:18 - How Often Should You Practice Mindfulness? 37:06 - Mindfulness for Neurodivergent People 40:49 - What If You Hate Mindfulness? 42:28 - The Hope Effect & Reducing Distress 43:34 - Mindfulness Research On Men 46:26 - The Importance of Women's Sexual Health Research 48:57 - Closing Thoughts: Interoception, Self-Compassion & Why Sexual Health Matters Papers mentioned in this episode:  Effects of Group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy versus Supportive Sex Education on Sexual Concordance and Sexual Response Among Women with Sexual Interest/Arousal DisorderMindfulness-Based Sex Therapy Improves Genital-Subjective Arousal Concordance in Women With Sexual Desire/Arousal DifficultiesGroup mindfulness-based therapy significantly improves sexual desire in womenHomework adherence in mindfulness-based cognitive interventions for female sexual dysfunction: a scoping review Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
Why We Have Sex We Don't Want (& How To Approach it)
2026/03/03
Sometimes low libido doesn’t look like avoiding sex. Sometimes it looks like having sex you didn’t really want in the first place. In this episode, I talk about something that’s far more common than most of us realise: saying yes to sex in a committed relationship even when you’re not really in the mood. It's about the kinds of moments where you agree because it feels easier than arguing, because you don’t want to disappoint your partner, or because you hope you’ll “get into it” once you start. We look at what the research says about why we do this, when it’s more neutral, and when it reduces desire and closeness further - or becomes harmful.  Toward the end, I share a simple reflection exercise to help you understand your own “yes” — and whether it’s something that it's helpful, or costing you something.  In this episode, we explore: Why saying yes to unwanted sex is incredibly common in long-term relationshipsThe difference between saying yes because you want connection — and saying yes to avoid conflict or guiltThe subtle forms of pressure that don’t look like pressureWhen and why sexual compliance can sometimes lead to positive outcomes, and why it more often leads to negative outcomes. A ​guided, free exercise to work out your own 'yes' 02:20 - What Is Sexual Compliance? 05:37 - Today's Research Paper: How Common Is Unwanted Sex? 07:03 - Why People Say Yes: Approach vs. Avoidance Motives 09:35 - It's About Power 11:29 - The Mental Load & Desire Connection 12:31 - The Two Types of Pressure: Explicit vs. Implicit 14:20 - Monogamy & the Unspoken Contract 16:21 - What Are the Consequences? 18:23 - My Sex-Therapist "Neutral at Worst" Stance & What it Means 19:36 - Avoidance Motives & Long-Term Harm 21:48 - Spontaneous vs. Responsive Desire 22:29 - Free Exercise: Identifying Your Pattern 28:52 - Breaking the Cycle & Finding Support The study discussed in this episode is Sexual Compliance in Finnish Committed Relationships: Sexual Self-Control, Relationship Power, and Experienced Consequences by Himanen & Gunst, published in The Journal of Sex Research. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
ADHD, Autism & Sex: Why Sex Feels So Hard, with Dr. Bowen Marshall
2026/02/03
For many neurodivergent people, sex becomes draining or disconnected over time, even when there’s desire and care underneath it all. Sex can start to feel like something you’re being evaluated on — rather than something you get to enjoy. In this episode, I talk with licensed counsellor Bowen Marshall about how ADHD, Autism, masking, and performance expectations affect our sex lives — and why so many people end up feeling like they need to "get sex right", instead of actually feeling pleasure. We specifically talk about: Attachment patterns and sexWhy sex can start to feel like performance rather than pleasureHow masking and self-monitoring undermine sexual connection and pleasureThe role dopamine plays in desire, arousal, and motivationWhy many people don’t know what they enjoy — and why that’s not a failureHow expectations around sex create pressure and anxietyWhat it can look like to shift focus from “doing it right” to what actually feels good Chapters: 1:48 - Introducing Bowen Marshall 4:02 - Bowen's Journey into Specializing in Neurodivergence 9:54 - Understanding Masking & Attachment Theory 17:57 - How Masking Shows Up in Relationships 22:42 - The Hot Stove Analogy: Understanding ADHD Challenges 28:55 - Sexual Challenges with ADHD & Autism 33:34 - Performance vs. Connection: When Sex Becomes a Test 38:08 - Dopamine, Motivation & the ADHD Brain 42:41 - Sex, Dopamine & Competing Sources of Pleasure 47:57 - P*rn vs. Partnered Sex: The McDonald's vs. Michelin Analogy 52:43 - Using Kink Language for Better Communication 57:11 - Final Advice: Finding What Feels Good 59:37 - Where to Follow Bowen Marshall 1:00:03 - A Sex Therapist's Reflections: Expectations & Presence 1:05:45 - Closing & Resources Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
“We Used to Have Such Great Sex”: Can Sexual Nostalgia Help Desire?
2026/01/06
“We used to have such great sex" is one of the most common things I hear from clients as a sex therapist and coach. Along with this confession usually comes grief, shame, and worry that something important to them is lost forever. In this episode, I explore the science of sexual nostalgia: why remembering past sexual connection can sometimes help rekindle desire — and why, in other cases, it can actually make things worse. I also include a free exercise toward the end to help you revisit past positive sex memories and increase desire. We talk about: Why remembering “how it used to be” can either ignite desire or shut it downWhen nostalgia becomes a resource — and when it turns into griefHow sexual turn-ons can become turn-offs, and what to do if that happens for youA guided, free exercise to ignite desire by diving into sexual nostalgia Chapters: 01:41 What is Sexual Nostalgia? 04:09 Study Overview: Sexual Nostalgia & Satisfaction 04:43 Attachment Styles & Nostalgia 05:33 When Nostalgia Helps vs. Hurts 08:41 Clinical Insights: Attachment & Desire 12:05 Using Nostalgia as a Tool, Not a Time Machine 12:39 How Turn-Ons Change Over Time & What To Do About It 17:41 Nostalgia vs. Fantasy 19:53 Guided Exercise: Access Desire Through Memory 21:21 Interpreting Your Response to the Exercise 24:27 Closing Thoughts & How to Get Support The study discussed in this episode is Rose Colored Glasses: An Exploration of the Relationship between Sexual Nostalgia and Sexual Satisfaction by Thompson et al., published in The Journal of Sex Research. Download the free exercise Access Desire Through Memory. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
Sex & Performance Anxiety: What Helps with Dr. Evie Kirana
2025/12/16
If you want sex to feel good again and not have to think about whether you're hard or softening, or whether you're going to have an orgasm soon — this episode gives you clear, usable tools to start moving in that direction. In part two of this series on sexual performance anxiety, I talk with health psychologist and clinical sexologist Dr Evie Kirana about how to deal with sexual performance anxiety. We break down the real mind–body connection (no woo here - just pure physiology!), why you can’t force your erection or orgasm to cooperate, and how to shift from performance pressure to meaningful connection. You’ll learn: Why fighting or hiding your anxiety makes it strongerHow to tolerate anxiety in the moment without shutting downThe four practical steps to deal with sexual performance anxiety in a new clinical modelHow connection-focused goals (instead of "I-have-to-get-this-righ goals") help your body during sexHow partners can support without becoming the “fixer” or the “nurse" Timestamps: 01:24 Introducing Dr. Evie Kirana 03:50 Gender Differences in Seeking Treatment for Sexual Dysfunction 05:30 Understanding Sexual Performance Anxiety (SPA) 07:57 Shame and Its Role 10:05 Cognitive Reappraisal: Changing Unhelpful Thoughts 13:06 Why We Can’t Control Sexual Function (Much Like Other Bodily Functions) 15:53 Shifting from Performance Goals to Connection Goals 18:44 The 4 Phases of Managing Sexual Performance Anxiety (& How To Do It) 25:05 Partner Dynamics and Navigating Progress Together 28:08 Why Society Doesn’t Talk About Sexual Performance Anxiety 31:45 Key Takeaways from Dr. Evie Kirana's Research 34:14 When to Seek Professional Help for Anxiety 36:45 Resources: MindMyErection.com 38:30 My Sex-Therapist Reflections & Final Thoughts 48:17 Outro & Support Resources You can find Dr. Kirana’s free video resources for men & people with penises (and their partners) at MindMyErection.com. The study discussed in this episode is A theoretical model for sexual performance anxiety (SPA) and a clinical approach for its remediation (SPA-R) by Rowland & Kirana, published in Sexual Medicine Review. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
Sex & Performance Anxiety: What’s Really Going On with Dr. David Rowland
2025/12/02
If you’ve ever felt your body shut down the moment sex begins (your arousal just disappears, or you become consumed with worries about your performance), this episode will help you understand why. In part one of this series, I talk with researcher Dr David Rowland about what sexual performance anxiety actually is, how it develops, and what’s happening in your brain and body when anxiety takes over. We unpack why pills can help penises but not people, why avoidance keeps the cycle alive, and how cultural expectations fuel shame. You’ll learn: The three ingredients of performance anxiety: expectation, evaluation, and consequenceWhy anxiety and sexual arousal can’t coexist in the bodyWhat happens when you avoid sex to “protect yourself” — and why it backfiresWhy thinking you're going to fail, increases the likelihood you willHow and why the brain can sometimes create a preferred response toward anxiety Timestamps: 00:23 – Introducing Dr. David Rowland 01:24 – Dr. Rowland’s Background 03:29 – The Need for Sex Education 05.25 – How Medication for Erectile Dysfunction Changed Our View On Performance Anxiety 06:14 – Pills vs. People: The Limits of Medication 06:34 – Why Sexual Anxiety Still Exists Despite Pills 06:57 – 3 Aspects of Sexual Performance Anxiety 09:14 – The Function of Anxiety 11:21 – The Brain and Anxiety Response 13:19 – How Anxiety Affects Sexual Response 15:00 – Anxiety, Masturbation, and Sexual Function 16:40 – How The Brain Can Develop A Preferred Response To Anxiety 20:01 – Avoidance as a Coping Mechanism 22:18 – Over-Preparation and Mindfulness 25:30 – The Role of Anxiety in Sexual Problems 31:00 – Cultural Ideals and Male Sexual Performance 33:33 – What to Do About Performance Anxiety 47:54 – My Sex-Therapist Take On The Impact of “Soft” Sexual Problems 48:18 – Pleasure, Productivity, and Underfunding 50:00 – The Brutal Cultural Ideals Surrounding "Performance" 51:33 – What to Do About It 52:19 – Closing Thoughts & Resources The study discussed in this episode is A theoretical model for sexual performance anxiety (SPA) and a clinical approach for its remediation (SPA-R) by Rowland & Kirana, published in Sexual Medicine Review. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link
"Does It Even Work?": 'Female Viagra' for Low Libido with Dr. Glen Spielmans
2025/11/11
A quick fix for low libido in women - sounds like a dream, right? Even for me as a sex therapist! In this episode, I talk with researcher Dr. Glen Spielmans about bremelanotide — a medication approved in the US for low sexual desire in women. On paper, it’s designed to target brain receptors linked to desire. But when you look closely at the trials, the story gets a lot more complicated. We get into: How the “statistically significant” results in the trials were actually very small, and why that matters for real-life change What happened when outcome measures were switched after the study was finished — and how that made the drug look more effective than it really was Why so many participants dropped out, and what those high dropout rates tell us about tolerability and side effects like nausea How measuring something as complex as desire with just two survey questions misses the bigger picture entirely And why solutions for low desire rarely come from quick fixes alone, especially when the underlying issues run deeper The study discussed in this episode is Small Effects, Questionable Outcomes: Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder by Spielmans & Ellefson, published in The Journal of Sex Research. Timestamps: 00:29 Meet Dr. Glenn Spielmans – The Truth-Seeker 01:47 The “Desire Drug”: What Is It Really Supposed to Do? 05:26 How Does This Drug Actually Work? (And Does It?) 08:12 Can You Trust the Science? A Peek Behind the Curtain 12:00 Does It Really Help? The Real-World Results 15:53 Why Did the FDA Approve This? 20:00 Measuring Desire: Why It’s So Much Harder Than You Think 24:21 Is Anyone Actually Using This Drug? 28:01 Controversy, Criticism, and Calling Out the Industry 41:33 A Sex Therapist Take: My Thoughts On What This All Means for You, Free Resources & Where to Get Help Download the free Desire Test here. Interested in my services? Check them out here Join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire here. Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link

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