December 2011

What is ESSM

The European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary, academic and scientific organization dedicated to male and female sexual health and dysfunction.

The main purposes of the ESSM are:

• To promote research and exchange of knowledge about the clinical entity of sexual dysfunction throughout Europe.
• To establish and support the highest standards of ethics in clinical practice, education, and research in the field of sexual dysfunction.
• To promote the cooperation and improve interaction between European researchers and clinicians in sexual dysfunction.
• To provide education to clinicians who had limited or no experience in the field, as well as continuing education to those involved in the management of sexual dysfunction.
• To provide patients, the public and the media with accurate and updated information about male and female sexual function and dysfunction.
• To develop programs, promoting public and health authorities’ awareness within Europe, on the prevention and treatment of sexual dysfunction.

In the last few years our society is crossing a huge number of difficulties concerning the actual social and economic crisis that leads to a lesser personal and financial investment and also a somehow disturbing lack of participation/interest due to a distinct number of distressing factors.

However, Sexual Medicine as a multidisciplinary activity still raises the attention of a huge number of health providers from all kind of specialties. This is a fact that we all must be aware of in order to provide the best service for our associates.

In this way, education in Sexual Medicine is our top platinum priority and we never stopped working on its development. The European School of Sexual Medicine is a joint venture established by the European Society for Sexual Medicine and the European Federation of Sexology. The first “Oxford Program” was run in 2007 to deliver a learning curriculum based upon the European Academy for Sexual Medicine syllabus, in anticipation of a European specialist qualification in Sexual Medicine currently in development.

It draws on high-level teachers from both Societies and aspires to provide a program for physicians that provide access to the knowledge and skills essential for specialist practice in Sexual Medicine.

And we do never stop...! The clock is ticking for ESSM Annual Congress. We  are now approaching the 14th Congress of the European Society for  Sexual Medicine that will take place in Milan, Italy, between the 1st  and the 4th December, 2011.  This major Sexual Medicine event, where all the topics related to “bad sex, sex  and good sex” get together, is undoubtedly the TOP meeting in Sexual Medicine and has been carefully prepared by Dr. Andrea Salonia, our  Chairman of the ESSM Scientific Committee as well as Local Chairman in the  beautiful city of Milan.

Be sure that the most recently-updated knowledge and innovations in the field of Sexual Medicine will be displayed in this huge event. We are talking about the world’s greatest and most important international meeting in its field. For those who have been already present in any one of our previous annual congresses, they already know that all details are taken into account. As always, this year some quite interesting and novel topics will be addressed including infrequently discussed subjects and translational research in Sexual Medicine.

Both the scientific and the educational committee of ESSM have worked very hard for many months to finalize this ambitious congress program. We are very sure that all delegates both enjoy this congress and see their scientific and clinical work in their daily practice benefit from the new scientific contents. This congress touches nearly all fields of Sexual Medicine, extending from premature ejaculation to hot topics in hormonal replacement therapy of both genders, from the state of the art management of priapism to the most recent update in HPV management and vaccination, from breast cancer and its impact on women's sexuality to issues in the elderly.

Moreover, as a clear cut innovation, ESSM will add a new 3-day Master Course on the ABC of Sexual Medicine to the European Continuing Medical Education opportunity for specialists in the field. The ABC Master Course – true pride of ESSM – will incorporate endocrinological, urological, surgical, gynecological, psychological and other diagnostic and therapeutic aspects in Sexual Medicine in order to cater for both practitioners and trainees. This ABC Master Course in Sexual Medicine was put together for "beginners" to learn the basics in Sexual Medicine. But without any doubt this educational program is also an unique opportunity for those who would like to refresh their knowledge in the special fields of Sexual Medicine. It is dedicated to all attendees starting in this field and (why not... ?) for all the “old guys” that enjoy to be refreshed.

HOW CAN WE BEST HIGHLIGHT AN EVENT LIKE THIS ONE?

It is simple. Just describing its contents…                                      

•  Live Video Surgery Course
• 19 Round Tables on hot topics in Sexual Medicine
• 6 Master Lectures  
• 10 Instructional Courses on key topics in Sexual Medicine
• 3 days‘ Master Course in Sexual Medicine for  “Beginners“
• Update in all topics of Sexual Medicine in podium and poster sessions including STD’s and Endocrinology 

But there is more...

Since 2010, our brand new ESSM website is updating all our associates with a monthly review of the literature on the most recent Sexual Medicine and Andrological publications comprising more than 50 journals dealing with sexual, andrological and related issues.

This monthly revision is offered to all by our ESSM President Prof. Hartmut Porst. Also, every two months, our Section Editors are providing you with a selection of the best papers published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in the fields of Basic Research, Clinical Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction and Surgery, together with an Editorial Comment. These papers are chosen due to its impact on our daily clinical work or its novelty or importance of its findings regarding the field of Sexual Medicine and Andrology.

A good common clinical practice supported by evidence-based medicine is crucial in developing excellence in medical care. The ESSM Website is collecting guidelines concerning the field of sexual medicine.

In spite of all the surrounding difficulties, ESSM is healthy in its core and mission and we just want to be recognized as good health providers in this so neglected field that should be more cherished by all.

A contest on the Best Case Report in Sexual Medicine:

On behalf of the EC committee of the ESSM, the Editors of the ESSM web site www.essm.org announce a competition among the ESSM members:

Please send us a case report, up to 600 words, on one of the following topics in sexual medicine:

• Organic case of Male sexual dysfunction
•  Organic case of Female sexual dysfunction
•  Case in Sexology – behavioral therapy of non organic origin in sexual dysfunction

The Author of the best case in each topic will receive a prize, which will be announced during the opening ceremony of the congress in Milan, and the case will be published prominently in the ESSM web site.

Others cases, that will be suitable for presentation, will be placed in the ESSM website.

Please send the cases to the editors in chief of the ESSM web site, Dr. Pedro Vendeira and Dr. Arik Shechter to the following E-mail address:

arikshec[at]netvision.net.il.

Please include your full name and affiliation.

The competition will end by the 30th of April 2012 – please send your applications before that date.

The cases will be transferred to the scientific contest committee that will be appointed by the ESSM EC.