Ep. 10 - The Happy Vagina: How to Get Your Groove Back

[00:12] Introduction: The Happy Vagina

Ep. 10 - The Happy Vagina: How to Get Your Groove Back

Host: Dr. Kanwal Bawa | Guest: Jenny | Runtime: 27:21 | Published: February 14, 2022

Dr. Bawa: Hello everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Dr. Sex Fairy. I am Dr. Kanwal Bawa, and I am here to transform your life. Our episode today is titled “The Happy Vagina.” I find that vaginas are often unhappy. They are used and abused and mostly ignored. I often say that women take better care of their cars than their own vaginas.

Dr. Bawa: The vaginal rejuvenation market was worth $5.97 billion in 2020, but it is expected to grow to $11.8 billion by the year 2026. And those are the numbers despite most women ignoring their vaginal needs. Imagine what the numbers would be if every woman actually took steps toward better vaginal and intimate health.

Dr. Bawa: Women often put their families ahead of themselves. It's how we tend to be wired. However, I do believe that it is time women realized what a major issue poor vaginal health really is, and also how much can be achieved with just a little bit of help.

Dr. Bawa: I often hear from women that they are “not that bad yet.” I am truly confused about how bad things need to be before women seek help. Why is living in a state of mediocre or outright disastrous intimate health okay? Why can't we put ourselves ahead of the line at least occasionally?

Here's the other problem: not only are women often not proactive about intimate wellness, their doctors don't always inform and educate them about their options. How are women supposed to know better when no one tells them?

Here's the other problem: They should not have to get their cues from the Gwyneth Paltrows of this world, who sell their unique brand of hippie placebos. Gwyneth Paltrow's company, Goop, was selling something called yoni eggs made of jade and quartz. These are literally eggs to be inserted in women's vaginas. Her website claimed that these vaginal eggs would balance hormones, regulate menstrual cycles and increase bladder control.

Here's the other problem: Yoni is a word that comes from Sanskrit. It means vagina. Using a Sanskrit word does not make jade eggs somehow magical. It doesn't give them any powers. As a medical doctor, I find this kind of nonsense infuriating. How dare these people mislead people this way? She also claimed that her mix of essential oils would prevent depression. A lawsuit was filed in the state of California, and Gwyneth Paltrow and her company lost. They were ordered to pay a settlement and refund customers.

Here's the other problem: I started Dr. Sex Fairy because I found a need in the world around me for actual scientific information. I am truly here to start a conversation about what really goes on inside our bodies, a conversation about relationships, and about how to live better lives.

Here's the other problem: At my Boca Raton rejuvenation medical practice, Bawa Medical, I help people from all walks of life have a happier and more fulfilled existence. I am delighted to welcome Jenny to the studio today. She came to Bawa Medical a few months ago because she simply wasn't having orgasms. The sex did not hurt. It was fun. She just wasn't having orgasms with or without a partner.

Here's the other problem: We had an honest, no-holds-barred discussion and managed to transform her sex life very quickly. Jenny, thank you so much for joining me today.

Jenny: Thank you for having me.

Dr. Bawa: So tell me, my friend, in your own words, what brought you to me? What was happening, or not happening, in your world?

[03:58] Jenny's Difficulty Reaching Orgasm

Jenny: Basically, I started noticing that the orgasms were less and less, and it was harder to achieve them. Even though sex was enjoyable, I wasn't getting the big wow factor out of it.

Dr. Bawa: So was it harder to get to the point, or were you not really getting to the point? You were not having that aha moment, that eureka moment, despite the effort?

Jenny: Exactly. I was not getting an orgasm at all. I could feel it starting, but I wasn't getting there.

Dr. Bawa: So you were feeling the beginnings of one, but you were never quite achieving it. That's a problem. Isn't that the whole point of sex? I understand the whole connecting-to-your-partner thing, but hey, it's supposed to be fun and pleasurable. You're both supposed to have that moment.

[04:34] CO2 Laser, Labial Rejuvenation and the O-Shot

Dr. Bawa: When you came to us, we did three things. First, we did the CO2 laser. The CO2 laser, in my opinion, is truly the gold standard for vaginal rejuvenation.

Dr. Bawa: In your case, we did internal and external vaginal rejuvenation with CO2. What CO2 does is basically rebuild the tissue. It takes a layer off and rebuilds the tissue in a very powerful manner. It produces collagen, brings the vagina back toward a pre-childbirth level of tightness, makes things look better, and certainly makes things feel better.

Dr. Bawa: We also did what we called the wing lift, which was labial rejuvenation. A lot of people are having more and more labiaplasties nowadays, where they trim the labia to make it look more aesthetically pleasing. But I have a very minimally invasive approach in my practice, and I like to cut as little as possible because there is often a better way.

Dr. Bawa: In your case, we used PRP, platelet-rich plasma, which we strengthened and converted into platelet-rich fibrin matrix, or PRFM, so it was more concentrated. We used your own growth factors to stimulate your stem cells. We placed that into your labia along with some hyaluronic acid filler, which gave you instant gratification and a nicer-looking, plumper appearance while collagen formed over time.

Dr. Bawa: Then we did the O-Shot. The O-Shot, or orgasm shot, works on a similar principle. We placed PRFM into the clitoral area for several reasons. Firstly, size matters, and not just for men. If the clitoris becomes smaller, there is less surface area to stimulate.

Dr. Bawa: Given the fact that only a minority of women orgasm from vaginal penetration alone, the clitoris is a major pleasure center. The O-Shot makes it just a little bit bigger. Don't worry, ladies and gentlemen, you will not have a tennis ball between your legs.

Dr. Bawa: The O-Shot also makes the clitoris more sensitive. It has thousands of nerve endings. We were made for pleasure, so why are we not having as much pleasure? That's where I come in as Dr. Sex Fairy.

Dr. Bawa: With the O-Shot, we worked to make the clitoris more sensitive, improve blood flow and improve responsiveness. That was another key component of how we decided to treat your sexual dysfunction and help you have more pleasure.

Dr. Bawa: Those were the three big things we did with you. Then you came back a few months later and got another O-Shot, not because the first one didn't work, but because it did. I think the first one started the job and the second one brought it home.

Jenny: Right.

Dr. Bawa: And now you're happy enough with the results that you came on my podcast. So thank you again for coming. Tell me about your experience. Was it painful? Did you have side effects? What was the journey like?

[09:10] Getting Pleasure Back

Jenny: In the beginning, there was just slight discomfort. It wasn't pain. It lasted maybe a day, and then everything was fine.

Jenny: I do have to admit that I get orgasms now, whether I'm with a partner or by myself. I can do it both ways now, which I couldn't do before. It's hard to explain what it feels like when you don't have one, compared with having the procedure done and having it come back so you can enjoy sex again.

Dr. Bawa: It's a big deal. I know it's hard to explain, but I think it comes down to quality of life. Now you're able to enjoy your life so much more.

Jenny: I feel like there was an emptiness inside before, like something had died. Now it doesn't feel like that anymore. When it's time for me to have sex, there's more confidence in my performance because I know I'm going to get something at the end of our rendezvous.

Dr. Bawa: That's actually very powerful. You felt that something had died inside, and that's depressing. You're young and vibrant. Tell our listeners how old you are.

Jenny: I just turned 57.

Dr. Bawa: That's pretty young. You're in the prime of your life. To feel that something inside you had died is significant. And for us to restore that in about four visits to the office is pretty awesome.

Dr. Bawa: Women need to know this, and men need to know this, because life is too short to have that kind of depression over something that may be treatable.

Dr. Bawa: We did nothing surgical. We did not cut your labia; we stimulated it. We did not cut your clitoris; we stimulated it. We did not do surgery on your vagina; we rejuvenated it. We helped the inside and the outside.

Jenny: You can see the difference.

Dr. Bawa: You can see the difference. We addressed pigmentation and the appearance of the tissue, and of course you are plumper and more rejuvenated from both the laser and what we did with PRFM and filler. We helped your body develop collagen with both the PRFM and the laser. It's a win-win.

Jenny: It was for me.

[12:08] Dryness, Laxity and More Sex

Dr. Bawa: Tell me what other problems you were having. You clearly weren't orgasming, but you're 57 and perimenopausal. You haven't really gone into menopause yet. Tell me a little bit about that.

Jenny: I had vaginal dryness that started to come about. Over time, I also felt like I became a little loose, and then there was the lack of orgasms.

Dr. Bawa: Now that you've had the laser, the O-Shot and the wing lift, you're having more orgasms. Are you having more sex?

Jenny: Yes. I can tell the difference in the tightness of the vagina, and so can he. It's more pleasurable for both of us because it's a tighter fit.

Jenny: The dryness is not there the way it was before. All the way around, it's like having a brand-new toy to play with.

Dr. Bawa: I like that. And you no longer feel dead inside.

Jenny: No. And actually, the O-Shot helped with incontinence too, even though I had taken care of that a few years ago. I don't know how to explain it, but I noticed a difference in that whole lower area. That's what happened with me.

[14:24] Incontinence, Recovery and Comfort

Dr. Bawa: When I did your O-Shot, I didn't just inject the clitoral area. I also treated the vaginal wall and the area around the urethra, which is where you urinate.

Dr. Bawa: We treated that entire area with PRP, so the goal was to improve the tissue quality and function as well. I'm really happy that it worked for you in all of those ways, not just pleasure but quality of life.

Jenny: I didn't have any side effects. I had no stomach cramps and no pain. I followed your directions for aftercare and had absolutely no problems. You told me there would be some discomfort for a certain number of hours, and that's exactly what it was. It was fine for me.

Dr. Bawa: The only thing I asked you not to do was have sex, use toys or have oral sex for one week. It's healing tissue, and we don't want to irritate or infect it. You followed the instructions to a T and had the kind of response we dream about.

Jenny: It was worth the wait.

Dr. Bawa: People often hear “O-Shot” and think, absolutely not, no needle is going in my clitoris. But I have pretty much perfected a painless O-Shot at this point.

Jenny: I will definitely say I didn't feel anything. I didn't want to know where it was going, but it didn't hurt at all. The procedure was fine. I came back for a second one.

[16:35] How Treatment Affected Jenny's Relationship

Dr. Bawa: You did come back for a second one. You also said your partner noticed that you were tighter, that he was enjoying sex more, and that you were enjoying sex more. Do you think it helped your relationship overall?

Jenny: It makes me feel much better. For him it wasn't necessarily a big issue because if you're with somebody, you're with somebody. But he does notice the difference, and it is more pleasurable for both of us. If I'm happy, he's happy, and then we're both happy.

Dr. Bawa: That's what it's all about: making people happier and helping them feel more fulfilled. I'm still affected by what you said about feeling as though something inside you had died. That's profound.

Jenny: That's the truth. That's how I felt. I didn't know that was something you could lose with age or menopause or whatever was happening. It was a big shock when I started feeling that way.

[17:39] Why Sexual Dysfunction Goes Undiscussed

Dr. Bawa: Sexual dysfunction is very underreported. Not only do people sometimes fail to recognize that they have sexual dysfunction, nobody talks about it.

Dr. Bawa: We live in the United States. We have education and access to health care. We can argue all day long about the health-care system, but we have access to excellent care. As somebody who started my career in the emergency department, I can promise you that when somebody needs emergency care, we give them that care.

Dr. Bawa: So in a country like this, for people to have this much dysfunction when there are tools available is heartbreaking. Pleasure seems to be treated as though it's dispensable, and I have a problem with that. You go to the doctor for your heart and for everything else. Why is vaginal health so unimportant to people?

Jenny: I don't understand it either. Insurance companies should at least pay part of it.

Dr. Bawa: It would be nice. But let's talk about what changed for you. You said you're having more sex after treatment. You have a long-distance relationship. How often were you having sex before?

[19:07] Confidence, More Sex and Less Pressure

Jenny: It was maybe once a month, and sometimes two or three months would go by depending on when he could come back. Now, if he's there for a week, we probably have sex almost every night if I can get my way.

Jenny: You feel good about yourself. It's all about feeling sexy. If you're not feeling sexy about yourself, you don't really want to do anything.

Dr. Bawa: So this has given you confidence and you feel sexier. Is oral sex better?

Jenny: Oh, yeah. It's refreshing to know that I could get it back. That's really what it is. It's not lost.

Dr. Bawa: Because for a while you were depressed about it. I remember when I met you.

Jenny: Yes, because you're not getting anything out of it. Then you feel bad because your partner is trying and trying and nothing is happening.

Jenny: Now I feel more relaxed too. I know it's going to happen, so you're more relaxed and it just goes with the flow.

Dr. Bawa: It's taken a lot of the stress out of it for you. That's another win.

[20:49] Sex Toys, Masturbation and Knowing Your Own Body

Dr. Bawa: What about sex toys? Are you using them more than you were?

Jenny: Probably about the same. Just a regular vibrator, nothing crazy.

Dr. Bawa: I was doing some research the other day, and I was very impressed with what's out there. I'm Dr. Sex Fairy, yet sometimes I feel like I'm living under a rock when I look at these websites and think, “Really? That exists?”

Jenny: There are a lot of choices. It's not one website; there are hundreds of them.

Dr. Bawa: We need to talk about sex toys and masturbation one of these days, and how pleasuring yourself is important. We need to take the shame out of that. We're in modern-day America, and so many of these things are still hush-hush.

Jenny: It pays to know how to pleasure yourself so you know what it feels like and when it's going to happen.

Dr. Bawa: Exactly. If you don't know how to press your own buttons, how is anybody else going to do it for you?

Dr. Bawa: The other thing I've noticed is that women can be quick to blame the man, but many women don't even look at their own vagina. You should know what it looks like and how it works. If you don't know what's normal for you, how do you know when there's a problem?

Jenny: You're right. And if you don't know how to make it feel good, how is anybody else going to do it?

[23:11] Being Proactive About Vaginal Rejuvenation

Dr. Bawa: That's why this is an important discussion. Vaginal rejuvenation matters, and I think starting younger can be better. You started somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, but I have patients even in their twenties coming in.

Dr. Bawa: Women who have given birth may not have a major problem yet, but they don't want to develop one. They're being proactive. I always say that preservation is better than restoration.

Jenny: That's true. If I had known, I'd have come a lot sooner.

Dr. Bawa: That's why patients fly in from other states and even other countries. I have women coming for vaginal rejuvenation and men coming from around the world for penis enlargement.

Dr. Bawa: People may fly in in the morning, come to my office, have their procedure and leave the same day, or they may make a weekend out of it because we're in sunny South Florida.

Jenny: And because there aren't major side effects or a hospital stay. You come into the office, have it done and you're able to leave.

Dr. Bawa: Exactly. It really can be that simple. You weren't taking medications for this. We did the vaginal laser three times, about four weeks apart, and the O-Shot twice. The O-Shot does not necessarily have to be done twice, but I think the first one laid the foundation and the second one dialed it in.

[25:12] CO2 Laser vs. Radiofrequency

Dr. Bawa: I prefer vaginal rejuvenation with CO2 over radiofrequency. I've spoken about this in other episodes because, in my view, radiofrequency can be relatively mild. It heats the tissue and can make some collagen, but patients may be told to keep repeating the treatments.

Dr. Bawa: With your treatment, I did not tell you that you had to start the whole thing again in six months. We're simply keeping an eye on how you do and how things progress. If we need to do more, we can. But you're in great shape right now, and there's no reason to repeat the laser at this point.

Dr. Bawa: CO2 is one of those things that I feel is a godsend, yet not enough people know about it.

Jenny: I don't know why. I was searching the internet and looking for different things, and that's how I found it.

Dr. Bawa: And you found me. How about that? Dr. Sex Fairy.

[26:14] Closing

Dr. Bawa: Jenny, thank you for having this discussion and for being so honest about it. I know how intimidating it can be to sit in a studio with a microphone and talk about intimate issues.

Dr. Bawa: And I want to thank our listeners for tuning in for another wonderful episode of Dr. Sex Fairy. Please don't forget to follow us and leave us a five-star review. Until next time.

[26:45] Recorded Outro

Dr. Bawa: I hope you enjoyed the Dr. Sex Fairy Podcast today. I would love to continue this conversation with you. If you would like my top three secrets for amazing sex, send me an email at askme@drsexfairy.com and I will share them with you. Don't forget to follow this podcast and leave me a five-star review. Until next time.