EP312 - What Happens to Your Body When You Lose Your Virginity ft Dr. Ashley Townes

Welcome to episode 312 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am delighted to welcome Dr. Ashley Townes to the podcast. In this episode, we discuss virginity, the social construct and values around virginity, the importance of safety and prevention, and how you can create a better construct and narrative around virginity. Dr. Ashley Townes (she/her/hers) is a sexuality educator and researcher. As a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, she attended the University of Cincinnati, where she earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health degrees. She later earned a PhD in Health Behavior and Epidemiology from Indiana University-Bloomington. Dr. Townes has over 15 years of experience providing sexuality education across a variety of academic and public health entities. Dr. Townes currently works in a postdoctoral research role in Atlanta, GA. Ashley’s research focuses on the sexual experiences of Black women, including partnered experiences, accessing health information, and utilizing sexual health services. As a young investigator, she has been a part of at least 15 peer-reviewed publications, serves on the Editorial Board for the American Journal of Sexuality Education, contributes to the Live Alive Wellness Blog created by Pure Romance, and has been featured in a variety of media, including Mind Body Green, Woman’s Day, Cosmopolitan, and MTV News). Her career interests are aimed at providing quality sexuality information and working towards health equity. In this episode, you will hear: How is virginity defined? Looking at the issue of “repairing virginity” Understanding the social construct and values around virginity Analyzing the female hymen Creating a better construct and narrative around virginity Improving your sexual experiences as you encounter them for the first time How communication is key to unlocking better sexual experiences Safety first! Make sure your fully up to speed with condoms and prevention OMGyes https://omgyes.com/doctors OMGyes - Special Discount! https://omgyes.com/sexology Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sexologypodcast Podcast Produced by Pete Bailey - http://petebailey.net/audio Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy