The "With That In Mind" Podcast · Red Bird Mental Health Services

Episode 31: With That In Mind | Sex Education with Cindy Loftus-Vergari Part 3

·55 min·5 clips

Cindy reveals how her husband's unexpected erection in Catholic school still haunts him 60 years later.

This episode focuses on guiding parents through conversations about puberty and sexuality with their children. Host Dr. Megan Velozorzi, a psychologist, quizzes her mother and guest Cindy Loftus-Vergari, a veteran sex therapist and educator with over 40 years of experience. They begin by discussing the fear and lack of control children experience as their bodies and emotions change during puberty. The true-or-false quiz covers that both boys and girls can experience breast growth, with boys sometimes developing gynecomastia. They note that children often resist regular bathing and deodorant use around ages 10 or 11, which is a normal part of development. The conversation addresses menstrual cycles, explaining that periods can be irregular initially, sometimes occurring only once or twice a year. They mention that a vaginal discharge often appears about a year before a girl's first period. Cindy shares a story about a teacher claiming women shouldn't serve in combat due to menstruation, to which Megan countered that period blood would be a minor concern in a dangerous situation. They clarify that erections can occur from non-sexual excitement, like thinking about baseball, and note erections are linked to cardiovascular health. A "wet dream" refers to ejaculation during sleep, not urination, and can be a source of shame if a child is unprepared. Cindy recounts a story from Megan's father about getting an erection in a Catholic school Latin class. Adolescents often feel self-conscious, believing they are the center of attention, and early or late developers can face bullying. The hosts state that only about one-third of women regularly experience orgasm from vaginal intercourse alone, emphasizing the clitoris's role in female pleasure. They critique the cultural focus on the female G-spot and multiple orgasms as creating performance pressure. Masturbation is presented as normal for both boys and girls, though cultural openness about it has varied by generation. They debunk myths, like getting pregnant from touching genitals, and note that oral sex is now more common among teens than intercourse. The tone is conversational, educational, and lightly humorous, with personal anecdotes from both a professional and parenting perspective. Parents of pre-teens or anyone who works with adolescents would find this episode practical and reassuring. Listeners seeking a highly clinical or politically charged debate on sex education might find it too informal or anecdotal.

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