CEO School

Sexual Wellness Is a Power Move for CEOs with Allison Germundson

December 29, 2025

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  • Many common female physical symptoms, such as pain with intercourse or bladder leakage, are fixable issues often incorrectly dismissed as "normal" post-childbirth or due to aging. 
  • High-achieving women can benefit significantly from sexual wellness, as orgasms are framed as the "new KPI" that leads to better decision-making and empowered leadership. 
  • Proper pelvic floor function relies on correct breathing (relaxing on inhale, protecting on exhale), and women must actively learn about their anatomy, as only 18% can orgasm from penetration alone, necessitating clitoral stimulation. 

Segments

Introduction and Guest Background
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(00:00:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Allison Germundson is a pelvic floor occupational therapist and embodiment coach focused on sexual wellness for high-achieving women.
  • Summary: Suneera Madhani introduces Allison Germundson, founder of One Strong Woman and host of Vaginally Speaking. The episode centers on sexual wellness, pelvic health, and hormones for female leaders. Germundson aims to help women release shame and rediscover pleasure and presence.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Causes
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(00:01:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms like pain, itching, and incontinence are often dismissed as ’normal’ by providers but are fixable.
  • Summary: Germundson experienced symptoms like pain with intercourse and bladder leakage after childbirth, which providers labeled as the ’new norm.’ Pelvic floor issues are not exclusive to childbirth; improper breathing patterns, like constantly sucking in or holding tight, create pelvic pressure and dysfunction. The pelvic floor should move like a jellyfish, relaxing on inhale and protecting on exhale, contrary to common medical advice to take a deep breath during exams.
Sexual Wellness and Libido
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(00:06:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Low libido, pain during sex, and difficulty achieving orgasm are common issues that women feel unable to discuss openly.
  • Summary: Women often struggle with orgasm challenges and low libido, but feeling empowered in one’s body through sexual wellness leads to better decision-making as a CEO. Most women are responders, not initiators, in sexual activity, meaning they need to know what truly turns them on (which can include non-physical cues like words of affirmation) to maintain desire amidst high stress.
Immediate Actionable Steps
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(00:07:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Immediate steps for pelvic floor health involve correcting breathing patterns and consciously releasing physical tension like jaw clenching and butt clenching.
  • Summary: The most immediate action is correcting breathing patterns so the breath moves in coordination with the pelvic floor. Women should become aware of physical triggers related to stress, such as clenching the jaw or butt cheeks, and consciously release that tension. Grounding, like taking off shoes, can also aid in body connection and relaxation.
Anatomy, Orgasm, and Tools
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(00:12:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Lack of anatomical education, particularly regarding the clitoris, contributes to sexual dissatisfaction, as only 18% of women orgasm from penetration alone.
  • Summary: Poor sex education, often limited to VHS tapes warning against pregnancy or death, leaves women ignorant of their own anatomy, including the vulva and clitoris. Achieving orgasm requires relaxation, as the release happens upon relaxation after the pelvic floor contracts during arousal; control hinders this process. Tools are encouraged as aids, but users must monitor intensity levels to avoid desensitization, which can lead to dependence on high stimulation.
Duration and Multiple Orgasms
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(00:19:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The average male arousal/orgasm time is seven minutes, while the female average is nearly 40 minutes, creating a significant disconnect that communication or tools can help bridge.
  • Summary: The time required for female arousal versus male arousal highlights a major disconnect in sexual encounters. While one partner may be satisfied in seven minutes, the other may require closer to 40 minutes, leading to dissatisfaction if not addressed. Multiple orgasms are achievable, but require learning how to relax and tap into different senses to distract the mind from the need for control.
Hormones and Perimenopause Awareness
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(00:21:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Perimenopause often begins in a woman’s 30s, presenting symptoms like brain fog, low libido, and vaginal dryness that are frequently misdiagnosed as neurological disorders.
  • Summary: Many women experience perimenopausal symptoms starting in their mid-to-late 30s, including brain fog, which impacts performance and decision-making. Women must advocate for themselves to receive comprehensive hormone testing (blood, urine, or saliva) to understand levels of cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone relative to their age and career demands. Providers should offer actionable feedback, including discussions around hormone therapy options like bioidentical hormones.