Most people (including medical providers) aren’t taught how orgasms actually “work.” In this first half of a two-part series, Dr. Alex DiGrado (pelvic floor PT) and Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy (sex therapist) unpack common misconceptions about orgasms and explore what’s going on in the body and brain. From breath and muscle coordination to nervous system regulation, they cover the physical and emotional patterns that can shape pleasure - and why these issues are often overlooked in medical care. Whether you’re confused, curious, or just want to understand your body better, this episode is a great place to start.

What you'll learn:

• Orgasm is a full-body reflex, involving your pelvic floor, breath, diaphragm, and nervous system (aka it’s not a simple on/off switch).
• Orgasms require both relaxation and excitation at the right times (and how PFPT can help with that).
• You can orgasm without ejaculation.
• Most pelvic floor PTs aren't trained in orgasm function in school.

Tune in if you’ve ever thought:

• “I’m not sure if I’ve ever had an orgasm.”
• “Why does it take me forever to finish (or not at all)?”
• “How can I feel more relaxed in my body during sex?”
• “How can pelvic floor PT help with orgasm issues?”

Helpful resources:

• Come As You Are: Revised and Updated: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski Ph.D.
• Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections by Emily Nagoski Ph.D.
• Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters - And How to Get It by Laurie Mintz
• Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
• Sex After Baby Mini-Course
• Find a pelvic floor PT near you: Pelvic Rehab Directory or Pelvic Global Directory

Connect with Us:

Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
Website: rebeccaeudy.com
Instagram: @rebeccahowardeudy
Newsletter: Parents in Love Substack

Dr. Alexandra DiGrado
Website: bostonpelvicpt.com
Instagram: @bostonpelvicpt
Newsletter: Under the Hood

Podcast
Instagram: @underthehooddocs
Website: underthehoodpod.com

Resentment doesn’t come out of nowhere - it’s usually a sign that something important hasn’t been said or repaired. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca (sex & couples therapist) and Dr. Alex (pelvic floor PT) talk about how resentment shows up in everyday relationships, even between people who are trying their best but are operating from completely different playbooks. They unpack why many of us take on too much, assume our partner should “just know” what we’re thinking, and then feel hurt when that doesn’t happen. This conversation is about noticing what's going on under the surface (because it's never just about the dishes), taking responsibility for what you can control, and asking for what you need in a way that actually brings you closer.

What You’ll Learn:

• When “letting things go” is actually avoidance, and when to speak up instead.
• Why over-functioning is often a choice that feels easier in the moment but backfires later on.
• How to ask for what you want without nagging or accusing.
• How to stop “shitting on the gift” when your partner tries to help.

Tune in if you’ve ever thought:

• “Why am I the only one who takes care of things around here?”
• “I know deep down my partner cares… so why doesn’t it feel like it?”
• “If I have to ask him to do it, it doesn't count.”
• "I should be happy my partner is taking care of himself, but I’m just annoyed instead.”

Resources:

• Find a pelvic floor PT near you: pelvicrehab.com or Pelvic Global Directory
• Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

Connect with us:

Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

• Website: https://www.rebeccaeudy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccahowardeudy/
• Newsletter: https://substack.com/@parentsinlove

Dr. Alexandra DiGrado

• Website: https://www.bostonpelvicpt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bostonpelvicpt/
• Newsletter: https://bostonpelvicpt.myflodesk.com/underthehood

Under the Hood Podcast

• Website: http://www.underthehoodpod.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/underthehooddocs/

If you cross your legs before sneezing, avoid your once-favorite HIIT class, or laugh so hard you need more than a tissue, you're not alone. And despite what you've been told, stress incontinence isn't "just a part" of motherhood or aging. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca and Dr. Alex debunk the myths keeping people suffering in silence and offer real, evidence-based solutions for leaking. Whether you're postpartum, an athlete, or just tired of planning life around bathrooms, we'll give you the tools to reclaim confidence and ditch the "just in case" pads.

What You’ll Learn

• "Stress" incontinence isn't about life stress (but may involve everyday habits working against you).
• Why TikTok's "engage your core all day" advice is terrible (& may ruin your sex life).
• Why addressing a "minor" leak in your 30s could keep you out of a nursing home in your 80s.
• How to tell if your pelvic floor is stuck in "overdrive".

Tune In If You’ve Ever Thought

• "I just have a weak pelvic floor from having kids."
• "I've never had kids, so why am I leaking during workouts?"
• "I do Kegels all the time, so why am I still leaking?"
• "It's just a minor annoyance—I can live with it."

Resources

• Find a pelvic floor PT: pelvicrehab.com or Pelvic Global Directory
• The Postpartum Essentials Virtual course
• Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids
• Revive Reusable Bladder Support for Women and Impressa Incontinence Bladder Supports

Connect with us:

Dr. Rebecca

• Website: https://www.rebeccaeudy.com
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccahowardeudy/
• Newsletter: https://substack.com/@parentsinlove

Dr. Alex

• Website: https://www.bostonpelvicpt.com
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/bostonpelvicpt/
• Under the Hood Newsletter: https://bostonpelvicpt.myflodesk.com/underthehood

Under the Hood

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/underthehooddocs/
• Website: http://www.underthehoodpod.com

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy (couples and sex therapist) and Dr. Alex DiGrado, DPT, PRPC (pelvic floor physical therapist) talk about what sex therapy and couples therapy involve—from how to find a qualified therapist to what a session might look like. They explore how emotional and physical disconnection often show up together, and why getting support earlier (before things feel overwhelming) can make all the difference. This is a thoughtful, down-to-earth conversation for anyone looking to deepen connection, strengthen their relationship, or simply explore how therapy can support growth and intimacy.

You’ll learn:

• How to find a certified sex therapist (and what credentials to look for)
• What to expect from your first session
• The ways anxiety, communication, and touch all impact desire and connection
• What “homework” in sex therapy looks like (it’s probably not what you think)

Tune in if you’ve ever wondered:

• “When should we see a couples therapist? Is it just for people about to split up?”
• “What if we don’t have sex, but we get along well otherwise?”
• “Does sex therapy involve…sex?”
• “What if my partner won’t come with me to sex therapy?”
• “How do I even bring this up with my partner?”

Resources

• Find a pelvic floor PT near you: pelvicrehab.com or Pelvic Global Directory
• Under the Hood Newsletter (Boston Pelvic PT)
• Parents in Love Newsletter by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
• Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

Connect with us:
Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

• Website: rebeccaeudy.com
• Instagram: @rebeccahowardeudy
• Newsletter: Parents in Love on Substack

Dr. Alexandra DiGrado

• Website: bostonpelvicpt.com
• Instagram: @bostonpelvicpt
• Newsletter: Under the Hood

Under The Hood Podcast

• Instagram: @underthehooddocs
• Website: underthehoodpod.com

Vaginismus is often described as “pain with penetration,” but that definition misses the bigger picture. In this episode, couples and sex therapist Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy and pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Alexandra DiGrado unpack what vaginismus really is, why it happens, and how it affects far more than just sex.

Together, they explore the role of the nervous system, pelvic floor muscles, fear-avoidance patterns, and past experiences—and why advice like “just relax” can actually make things worse. This conversation offers clarity, compassion, and an evidence-based path forward for anyone navigating pelvic pain or supporting someone who is.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why vaginismus is a protective nervous system response—not a psychological failure or conscious choice
• How the fear–tension–pain cycle develops and reinforces ongoing pain
• Why vaginismus can affect more than penetration, including exams, tampon use, sitting, and bowel function
• What effective treatment actually looks like, including pelvic floor PT, education, and nervous system regulation
• How healing focuses on safety, choice, and gradual progress—not pushing through pain

Tune in if you’ve ever thought:

• “Everyone keeps telling me to relax, but I literally don’t know how.”
• “Can this ever get better, or will it always hurt like this?”
• “How do I explain this to my partner, and what does it mean for our relationship long-term?”
• “I feel embarrassed talking about this — am I the only one?”
• “How do I get help without forcing myself through more pain?”

Helpful Resources

• Intimate Rose anal/vaginal dilators (use code ALEXANDRA1 for 20% off - affiliate link)
• The Postpartum Essentials Virtual course
• Sex After Baby Mini-Course
• Find a pelvic floor PT near you: pelvicrehab.com or Pelvic Global Directory
• Under the Hood Newsletter (Boston Pelvic PT)
• Parents in Love Newsletter by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
• Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

Connect with us:

Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

• Website: https://www.rebeccaeudy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccahowardeudy/
• Newsletter: https://substack.com/@parentsinlove

Dr. Alexandra DiGrado

• Website: https://www.bostonpelvicpt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bostonpelvicpt/
• Newsletter: https://bostonpelvicpt.myflodesk.com/underthehood

Podcast

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/underthehooddocs/
• Website: http://www.underthehoodpod.com

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy (couples and sex therapist) and Dr. Alex DiGrado, DPT, PRPC (pelvic floor physical therapist) discuss how your nervous system, muscular habits, and past experiences (including trauma and chronic stress) are all connected to chronic pelvic pain. Whether you’ve been dismissed by the healthcare system, or are looking to better understand the connection between your body and brain, this conversation will leave you feeling informed, seen, and empowered to seek relief for yourself and your loved ones.

What You’ll Learn:

• The 10-Year Delay: Why conditions like endometriosis take so long to diagnose and how these conditions contribute to chronic muscular pain.
• The Ab Gripping Habit: How chronic ab-tightening (often thanks to diet culture and fitness trends) can lead to a chronically tight, painful pelvic floor.
• The Fire Alarm Analogy: Why your body continues to send very real, strong pain signals even after an infection (like a UTI) or injury has been treated.
• Lifestyle Optimization: The often-overlooked connection between pelvic tension, low back pain, bowel movements, and overall wellness.

Tune in if you’ve ever thought:

• “I feel like I'm going crazy—I know my pain is real, but my doctor keeps telling me everything ‘looks normal’.”
• “Why does it seem like I constantly have a UTI even though my tests are negative?”
• “How can pelvic floor PT help my chronic pain when it’s caused by a disease like endometriosis (or PCOS, IBS, and more), rather than a specific injury?"

Resources

• Explain Pain by Lorimer Moseley
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• Nancy's Nook (Endometriosis education + resources)
• Beating Endo by Dr. Iris Kerin Orbuch and Amy Stein
• Find a pelvic floor PT near you: pelvicrehab.com or Pelvic Global Directory
• Under the Hood Newsletter (Boston Pelvic PT)
• Parents in Love Newsletter by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
• Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

Connect with us:

Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

• Website: https://www.rebeccaeudy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccahowardeudy/
• Newsletter: https://substack.com/@parentsinlove

Dr. Alexandra DiGrado

• Website: https://www.bostonpelvicpt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bostonpelvicpt/
• Newsletter: https://bostonpelvicpt.myflodesk.com/underthehood

Under the Hood Podcast

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/underthehooddocs/
• Website: http://www.underthehoodpod.com

Most people hear “pelvic floor PT” and think, “So…Kegels and an awkward exam?” But here’s what most people don’t realize: good pelvic floor physical therapy is full-body, trauma-informed care that connects your bladder, bowel, sexual function, posture, breathing, and stress levels—not just your vagina, penis, or “down there.”

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy (couples and sex therapist) and Dr. Alex DiGrado (pelvic floor physical therapist) pull back the curtain on what actually happens in a pelvic floor PT visit. From the intake questions to the internal exam (always optional, always consent-based), they walk through how a skilled PT looks at your whole body, your nervous system, and your real life to understand what’s going on.

Whether you’re leaking when you sneeze, dealing with constipation, dreading sex because it hurts, or just wondering if your “weird” symptoms are normal, this conversation will leave you informed, de-shamed, and more confident about getting the help you deserve.

What You’ll Learn

• What really happens at a pelvic floor PT appointment
• Why training and approach matter so much in the PFPT you choose
• The truth about Kegels (and why tight muscles are weak muscles)
• How your whole life shows up in your pelvis
• Signs that pelvic floor PT could help you

Tune in if you’ve ever thought:

• “Isn’t pelvic floor PT just Kegels?”
• “I had a weird pelvic floor PT experience—do I really want to try again?”
• “Why am I leaking, in pain, or running to the bathroom all the time?”
• “Is it normal that sex hurts (or feels numb) after childbirth or surgery?”
• “What actually happens in an internal exam—and do I have to do one?”

Resources

• Pelvic floor + postpartum support & courses
  • The Healthy Pelvis Project – virtual pelvic health and postpartum support:
    https://thehealthypelvisproject.podia.com/
• Find a pelvic floor physical therapist near you
  • Pelvic Rehab Provider Directory:
    http://pelvicrehab.com/
  • Pelvic Global PT Directory:
    https://directory.pelvicglobal.com/
• Sex & Relationships
  • Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

Connect with Us

• Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
  • Website: https://www.rebeccaeudy.com
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccahowardeudy/
  • Newsletter: https://substack.com/@parentsinlove
• Dr. Alexandria DiGrado
  • Website: https://www.bostonpelvicpt.com
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bostonpelvicpt/
  • Newsletter: https://bostonpelvicpt.myflodesk.com/underthehood
• Podcast
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/underthehooddocs/
  • Website: http://www.underthehoodpod.com

This is the second episode in our series exploring Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy’s new book, Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids.

Desire differences are one of the most common struggles couples face—especially after becoming parents. One partner may want sex more often, while the other feels overwhelmed, pressured, or disconnected. Underneath those stuck places, both people are usually reaching for the same thing: closeness, emotional safety, and reassurance that they matter.

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy (couples and sex therapist) and Dr. Alex DiGrado (pelvic floor physical therapist) dive into the sexual cycle—how pursuit and withdrawal show up in the bedroom, how gender conditioning shapes desire, and the real difference between spontaneous vs. responsive desire.

They explore why pressure shuts everything down, how resentment quietly builds, and why willingness—not immediate desire—is often the true starting point for connection.

What You’ll Learn

• How emotional patterns influence sexual patterns
• The difference between spontaneous and responsive desire
• Why pressure and resentment shut down intimacy
• How gender conditioning affects how people express desire
• What is sensate focus and how can it help couples reconnect

Tune in if you’ve ever thought:

• “Why do we want sex at such different times?”
• “Is something wrong with me if I only feel desire after things get started?”
• “Why does my partner take it so personally when I’m not in the mood?”
• “How can we get out of this cycle of pressure, shutdown, and misunderstanding?”
• “How do we bring back intimacy after having kids?”

Resources

Sex & Relationships

• Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
  https://substack.com/@parentsinlove

Pelvic floor + postpartum support & courses

• The Healthy Pelvis Project – virtual pelvic health and postpartum support:
  https://thehealthypelvisproject.podia.com/

Find a pelvic floor physical therapist near you

• Pelvic Rehab Provider Directory:
  http://pelvicrehab.com/
• Pelvic Global PT Directory:
  https://directory.pelvicglobal.com/

Connect with Us

Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy

• Website: https://www.rebeccaeudy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccahowardeudy/
• Newsletter: https://substack.com/@parentsinlove

Dr. Alexandria DiGrado

• Website: https://www.bostonpelvicpt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bostonpelvicpt/
• Newsletter: https://underthehood.myflodesk.com/o9qfr16q1v

Podcast

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/underthehooddocs/
• Website: http://www.underthehoodpod.com