Joint ISSM/ISSWSH Webinar on Psychological and Sexual Health Issues Across the Menstrual Cycle and the Role of Allopregnanolone on Mood Disorders PMS/PMDD

Dr. Elisa Maseroli received her MD and Postgraduate Diploma in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases from the University of Florence, School of Human Health Sciences, Italy, in 2016, under the supervision of Prof. Mario Maggi. She then earned a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio” at the same university in 2020.

Since 2017, Dr. Maseroli has been a clinician at the Andrology and Gender Endocrinology Unit (directed by Prof. Linda Vignozzi) at Careggi Hospital in Florence, Italy.

Dr. Maseroli holds several positions in the field of sexual medicine and endocrinology. She is:

Chair of the ESSM Female Ultrasound School (European Society for Sexual Medicine)

Member of the Ad Hoc Research Grants Committee and Nominating Committee of the International Society for Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH)

Board Member of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS)

Member of the International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2024) for the Clinical Evaluation and Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women

Co-Chair of the Women’s Endocrinology Committee of the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE)

Member of the ISSWSH/ISSM 2025 Scientific Committee

Chair of the Webinar Subcommittee of the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM)

Associate Editor of Sexual Medicine Open Access

In 2024, Dr. Maseroli was honored with the ISSM Rising Star Award for her contributions to sexual medicine.

She is an active academic reviewer for several international journals and has co-authored over 80 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, she has contributed to multiple book chapters and invited reviews in the field of sexual medicine. She is also a frequent invited speaker and chair at international congresses.

Jeff Kiesner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Developmental and Social Psychology at the University of Padova.

He has a broad background in both research and teaching, including courses taught in statistics, developmental psychology, social psychology, clinical psychology, and neuroscience; and research publications across areas of developmental psychology, social psychology, clinical psychology and psychoneuroendocrinology.

He has conducted pioneering research on individual differences in symptom experience associated with the menstrual cycle, with the goal of better understanding what characterizes Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). This work has focused on demonstrating the importance of studying each woman's individual profile and trajectory of physical and psychological changes across the menstrual cycle. Related to this research, he has published a cross-disciplinary theoretical paper connecting the development of affective disorders with the neuroendocrine, behavioral and social changes associated with pubertal development and the onset of the menstrual cycle among adolescent girls. Whereas Kiesner's past research in this area has focused on high-frequency longitudinal assessment of symptoms, future research will include neuroimaging studies and neuroendocrine studies to understand the neurological links between the multitude of physical and psychological symptoms associated with PMDD.

A recent extension of this research includes a focus on sexual function and dysfunction among women, including problems associated with sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm. This research focusses on affective and cognitive mechanisms associated with inhibition of sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm, and will include studies aimed at understanding brain activations and effective connectivity. In addition to these well recognized (though poorly understood) issues concerning female sexual functioning, a new focus of Kiesner's research will be on Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genito-Pelvic Dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD). These less recognized and less studied disorders have important psychological implications and neuropathophysiological origins that will likely offer insights to prevention and treatment and will be an important part of Kiesner's future work.

Dr. Rowen is an obstetrician and gynecologist whose care and research focuses on sexual health and transgender health, as well as complex gynecologic care for people with cancer. A lead gynecologic surgeon at UCSF, Rowen has expertise in laparoscopy (surgical diagnostic procedure to examine the inside of the abdomen) and vaginal and vulvar surgery, including especially hysterectomy. She is medical director of perioperative services for the obstetrics and gynecology department.

Rowen earned her medical degree and a master's degree in health and medical sciences through a joint program of the University of California, Berkeley and UCSF. She completed a residency in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at UCSF.

Rowen is an international expert in sexual health. She has served as a board member for the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health and as an associate editor for the Journal of Sexual Medicine. She is a sought-after speaker on sexual medicine and has published dozens of papers and book chapters on the topics of sexual health and family planning and safe motherhood in developing countries. She is a member of the International Society for Sexual Medicine, World Professional Association for Transgender Health and American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.