Ep. 131 Cliteracy for Clinicians: A Clinical Guide to Sexual Health & Clitoral Anatomy with Dr. Christine Vaccaro

Are we addressing sexual health in clinical practice? On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, host Dr. Nicole Faulkner is joined by Dr. Christine Vaccaro, a double board-certified urogynecologist and sexual medicine specialist, to discuss the evaluation and care of women’s sexual health concerns. They highlight the importance of open conversations, patient empowerment, and a multidisciplinary approach to support well-being and improve quality of life.

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Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction04:01 - What Is Sexual Medicine07:58 - Understanding Libido, Arousal, and GSM15:54 - Clinic Visit Structure and Patient Counseling19:17 - Clitoral Exam, Adhesions, and Anatomy Education28:17 - Addressing Stigma, Patient Education, and Myths32:03 - Tools for Patient Empowerment: Apps and Self-Examination39:55 - In-Office Procedures, Pain Mapping, and Hormonal Considerations46:37 - Managing Complex Cases and Multidisciplinary Collaboration53:47 - Closing Remarks

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More about this episode

The conversation explores practical strategies for evaluating and managing issues such as libido, arousal, orgasm, and sexual pain, with a focus on genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and clitoral anatomy. Dr. Vaccaro shares her approach to assessing clitoral adhesions, pelvic pain, and hormonal changes, as well as effective ways to educate patients about anatomy and self-examination. They discuss the importance of reducing stigma, addressing misconceptions, and using a multidisciplinary approach to improve patient outcomes. The episode also highlights the role of clinician training, patient-centered counseling, and collaborative care in supporting women’s sexual health across the lifespan.

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Resources

International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: https://www.isswsh.org/