Patient Stories

Solo: The Episode I've Been Afraid to Record: My Vulvodynia and Vaginismus Story

Solo: The Episode I've Been Afraid to Record: My Vulvodynia and Vaginismus Story

For a long time, I've been standing slightly to the side of my own experience on this podcast. Today, I step into the center of it.In this solo episode, I share my full story with vulvodynia and vaginismus for the first time - from the f...
Published
Mar 31, 2026
Duration
36:59
The Device Designed to Make Sex Less Painful: Pelva Founder Kelley on Vulvodynia & Vaginismus

The Device Designed to Make Sex Less Painful: Pelva Founder Kelley on Vulvodynia & Vaginismus

What if the answer to painful sex wasn't another dilator - but something genuinely novel? In this episode, Mathilde sits down with Kelley, co-founder of Pelva and a fellow woman with lived-experience  who went from primary vaginismus and...
Published
Mar 9, 2026
Duration
39:20
Solving the Recovery Puzzle: Vulvodynia, Nocebo, and Overcoming Medical Dismissal

Solving the Recovery Puzzle: Vulvodynia, Nocebo, and Overcoming Medical Dismissal

In this episode, I'm joined by Heather Coppard - nurse, hypnotherapist, and author. Heather spent years navigating the healthcare system as a patient with persistent vulval pain, experiencing firsthand the dismissal, gaslighting, and har...
Published
Mar 2, 2026
Duration
50:29
Lauren's 15-Year Vaginismus Journey: The Arousal-First Routine & Mindset Shifts That Worked

Lauren's 15-Year Vaginismus Journey: The Arousal-First Routine & Mindset Shifts That Worked

After experiencing vaginismus for over 15 years, Lauren found a treatment approach that finally worked - and it looked very different from the clinical, physical therapy-style dilation she'd tried before.In this conversation, Lauren open...
Published
Jan 19, 2026
Duration
37:18
The Link Between Thrush and Vulvodynia: What Every Woman Needs To Know with Philly Baines

The Link Between Thrush and Vulvodynia: What Every Woman Needs To Know with Philly Baines

Thrush (aka yeast/candida infections) is common - 75% of women will experience it at some point - but for some women, it can trigger long-term vulvar pain (vulvodynia). In this powerful episode, Mathilde speaks with Philly Baines, a UK-b...
Published
Nov 6, 2025
Duration
44:20
The Mind-Body-Social Connection: Rethinking How We Treat Pelvic Pain with Dr Claudia Chisari

The Mind-Body-Social Connection: Rethinking How We Treat Pelvic Pain with Dr Claudia Chisari

What really shapes how we live with vulvodynia, vaginismus and other pelvic pain conditions - biology alone, or also our emotions, thoughts, partner interactions and place in society...
Published
Oct 1, 2025
Duration
35:10
Sam Evans: What Everyone Should Know About Intimate Products and Their Potential Link to Vulvodynia and Vaginismus

Sam Evans: What Everyone Should Know About Intimate Products and Their Potential Link to Vulvodynia and Vaginismus

Join us with Sam Evans, intimate health expert and co-owner of Jo Divine, a UK pleasure shop specializing in skin-safe products. Sam shares her personal experience with vaginismus and how intimate products directly contributed to her con...
Published
Mar 18, 2025
Duration
42:35