Season 1 Finale: "Is My Vagina Normal?" x Justice for the Vulva with Dr. Carla Carpenter, OB-Gyn

Hi! It’s Micah from Modern Hysteria, your podcast and newsletter revealing the taboos of women’s brains and bodies (listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts).You may have had these body parts for all or most of your life, but do you really know what should go on *down there?*This Season 1 finale demystifies the vulva, vagina, and labia with evidence-based insight from OB-Gyn Dr. Carla Carpenter, challenging cultural myths, porn-influenced beauty standards, and medical misinformation to help you understand how to advocate for your sexual and vaginal health at every stage of life.This episode’s for you. We don’t hold back. 🩵THE TABOOWe are taught to be ashamed of our genitals—how they look, how they smell, how they age, and how they function—in lieu of accurate, empowering, or evidence-based information.LINKS + RESOURCES ⚕️ International Society of the Study of Vulvovaginal Disorders📘 Book recommendations* Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski→ The science of female desire, and why context matters more than we think* The Pleasure Gap by Katherine Rowland→ A journalistic look at why women are having less satisfying sex* The Care & Keeping Of You by Valorie Schaefer→ Straightforward advice on boobs and pubic hair, etc., for 8-10-year-olds from the American Girl Library SeriesTIME STAMPS* 7:00: Anatomy 101: Vulva vs. Vagina* 11:00: Discharge: Normal or not?* 15:00: What causes vaginal dryness?* 18:00: Finding a good OB-Gyn* 21:00: Common issues like dryness and itching* 24:30: Painful sex is not normal* 27:30: Responsive versus spontaneous desire* 31:00: Am I normal? Your labia and porn myths* 34:00: Your labia in menopauseKEY TAKEAWAYS + LISTENER QUESTIONSWhat’s the difference between my vulva and my vagina?* Your vulva is the outside part—the visible external genitalia. That includes your labia (inner and outer lips), clitoris, urethral opening (where you pee), and the vaginal opening.* Your vagina is the internal canal. It’s a stretchy, muscular tube that connects your vulva to your cervix and uterus. It’s what doctors look at during an internal exam, and what expands during sex or childbirth.Is vaginal dryness normal?Common? Yes. Normal? Not exactly.What is vaginal discharge, and what’s normal versus worrisome?Vaginal discharge is a mix of fluid and cells that your vagina and cervix naturally produce to keep things clean and healthy. It’s supposed to be there—it’s not gross, it’s a sign your body is doing its job.How can I find a good healthcare provider?Finding a good healthcare provider—especially for vulvovaginal or hormonal health—can feel like searching for a unicorn.🔍 Search here:  International Society of the Study of Vulvovaginal DisordersWhat’s the most common vulvovaginal conditions folks just live with, not knowing it’s abnormal and treatable?🚩 Painful sex because of vaginal drynessCarla gives permission to not have sex unless it’s comfortable.→ More on “libido” and sexual desireHow often do long-term partners have sex?Two-to-four times a monthEmily Nagoski — spontaneous versus responsive desireTHE GUEST EXPERTDr. Carla Carpenter received her undergraduate degree in Neurobiology from Northwestern University and her medical degree from Des Moines University. She is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), and is in private practice, focusing on full-scope obstetrics and gynecology, including high-risk obstetrics.Her special interests include complex vulvar and vaginal dermatologic disorders. Getting to know her patients on a personal level throughout the 20+ years of her practice has been Carla’s most unexpected and greatest joy of practicing medicine.More on Dr. CarpenterComing up in Season 2:Bouncing Back After Baby x Self Acceptance 💥Disorganized Attachment StylePostpartum RageFood x FertilityIntimacy after Sexual TraumaADHD x Motherhood This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com