Are you standing in the pharmacy aisle, staring at rows of intimate care products, feeling overwhelmed and confused about what's actually safe for your changing menopausal body? If vaginal dryness, discomfort, or declining intimacy have left you frustrated and searching for answers, this episode of Pleasure In the Pause will transform your approach to intimate wellness during menopause.

Gabriella Espinosa sits down with the renowned "girlfriend doctor," Dr. Anna Cabeca, to demystify vulvar care, vaginal health, and sexual wellness for midlife women. This comprehensive conversation covers everything from understanding your vaginal microbiome to choosing the right products for your changing body, giving you the knowledge and confidence to prioritize your intimate health during perimenopause and beyond.

Are you ready to awaken your sensuality and feel more empowered in your body? Access the FREE Pleasure Upgrade Bundle at https://www.pleasureinthepause.com/gift.

Dr. Anna Cabeca is a triple board-certified physician specializing in gynecology, obstetrics, integrative medicine, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine. As the bestselling author of "The Hormone Fix" and "Keto Green 16," Dr. Anna brings over 20 years of clinical experience helping women navigate menopause and sexual health challenges. Known as "the girlfriend doctor" for her warm, direct, and humorous approach, Dr. Anna has personally experienced menopause twice, giving her both clinical expertise and lived experience. She's the creator of Julva vulvar care cream and the upcoming Velvet lubricant, products specifically designed for midlife women's changing bodies. Dr. Anna currently practices clinically and regularly lectures to physicians on women's intimate health.

Highlights from our discussion include:

• Understanding your vaginal microbiome and how it changes during midlife.
• The difference between vulvar and vaginal care.
• Red flag intimate product ingredients to avoid.
• Why DHEA as a game-changer for midlife women.
• How to eliminate hormone-distrupting products from your routine.

Your comfort, pleasure, and confidence aren't luxuries – they're your birthright. Take one simple step this week: whether it's having an honest conversation with your healthcare provider, examining your current intimate care products for harmful ingredients, or simply tuning into what your body is asking for.

Don't let embarrassment keep you suffering in silence. As Dr. Anna reminds us, sexual health is health, and advocating for your intimate wellness is an essential part of thriving in midlife and beyond.

If you're seeking to reclaim your pleasure and vitality, join Gabriella at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pleasureinthepause.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for this enlightening journey into the heart of female pleasure and empowerment.

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If you're one of the 600,000 women who undergo hysterectomies annually in the US—with 73% having their ovaries removed—you may feel completely unprepared for the sexual and emotional changes that follow surgical menopause. On Pleasure and the Pause, we're breaking the silence around this isolating journey. Host Gabriella Espinosa sits down with Dr. Juliana Hauser, a nationally recognized sex therapist who personally navigated surgical menopause, to explore how women can reclaim their sexuality, rediscover pleasure, and find their way back to themselves after this life-changing procedure.

Are you ready to awaken your sensuality and feel more empowered in your body? Access the FREE Pleasure Upgrade Bundle at https://www.pleasureinthepause.com/gift.

Dr. Juliana Hauser, a nationally recognized expert in relationships, sex, and holistic sexuality. Dr. Juliana is a Ph.D. in Counseling Education who has built an extraordinary career spanning academia, clinical leadership, and community advocacy. She leads a thriving private practice where she works with individuals and couples navigating complex life experiences, and in September, she's releasing her highly anticipated book, "A New Position on Sex: A Guide to Greater Sexual Confidence, Pleasure, and Authenticity."

Highlights from our discussion include:

• Understand surgical options and their impact on hormonal health and sexual function before a hysterectomy.
• Prioritize sexual health in medical conversations, asking specific questions about post-surgery effects.
• Proactively build a support team including a menopause doula, pelvic floor therapist, and mental health professional.
• Embrace self-discovery regarding sexual agency after surgical menopause, approaching changes with curiosity.
• Advocate for proper hormone management, insisting on regular tests and speaking up if something feels off.

Surgical menopause doesn't have to mean the end of your sexual story—it can be the beginning of a new chapter written entirely on your terms. Remember: your sexuality isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. Whether you're considering this surgery or supporting someone who is, know that pleasure, confidence, and sexual fulfillment are absolutely possible on the other side.

If you're seeking to reclaim your pleasure and vitality, join Gabriella at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pleasureinthepause.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for this enlightening journey into the heart of female pleasure and empowerment.

CONNECT WITH DR. JULIANA HAUSER:

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Are you struggling with the emotional rollercoaster of your children leaving for college? Feeling lost, heartbroken, and uncertain about your identity beyond motherhood? You're not alone. In this powerful episode of Pleasure in the Pause, host Gabriella Espinosa addresses one of midlife women's most challenging transitions - the empty nest syndrome.

Are you ready to awaken your sensuality and feel more empowered in your body? Access the FREE Pleasure Upgrade Bundle at https://www.pleasureinthepause.com/gift.

Discover how to navigate the complex emotions of watching your children gain independence while you reclaim parts of yourself you thought were lost forever. Learn why this transition doesn't have to mean emptiness, but can instead become an "open door" to rediscovering your sensual self, reigniting intimacy, and stepping into your most vibrant chapter yet. This episode is essential listening for midlife mothers ready to transform grief into growth and rediscover their pleasure and power.

Highlights from our discussion include:

• Reframe this transition as an "open door" to emphasize freedom, tenderness, and possibility rather than loss and emptiness.
• Allow yourself to experience the full spectrum of emotions without judgment during this major identity shift, as it's normal to feel both overjoyed and heartbroken simultaneously.
• This transition offers the opportunity to integrate all parts of yourself, including your sensual and sexual self, which may have been "orphaned" during motherhood.
• Recognize that when children leave, you can finally relax fully into your body and be completely present with your partner, understanding how maternal hypervigilance affects intimacy.
• Establish consistent connection, such as weekly video calls, while allowing your adult children to lead their own independence journey and giving them emotional space to grow.
• Use this newfound mental and physical space to pursue deferred dreams, whether it's starting a business, deepening friendships, exploring creativity, or rediscovering pure joy.

Your children leaving home doesn't signal the end of your most vibrant years - it marks the beginning of a new chapter where you get to integrate the wisdom you've gained as a mother with the aliveness you've been storing up. This week, ask yourself: "What would bring me pure joy if I gave myself permission to explore it?" Remember, when you're connected to your own desires and dreams, you model something beautiful for your children about what it means to be a woman who continues to grow throughout her life.

If you're seeking to reclaim your pleasure and vitality, join Gabriella at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pleasureinthepause.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for this enlightening journey into the heart of female pleasure and empowerment.

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