Pelvic floor disorders are chronic conditions that can negatively impact female sexual function, whether by distress from sexual pain or problems with the sexual response cycle (desire, arousal, orgasm). These conditions range anywhere from incontinence (both urinary and bowel) to pelvic organ prolapse (pelvic organs descend and begin to fall out through the vaginal canal).

ISSM is proud to announce the launch of its newly developed Code of Professional Conduct. This important document marks a significant step in reinforcing the professional and respectful environment that defines ISSM’s global community. The Code of Conduct is designed to guide how members interact within the ISSM and its affiliated activities. It emphasizes respectful communication, inclusivity, and professionalism across all society events and online platforms.

The Code of Professional Conduct can be found online alongside the Society’s other policies and guidelines at https://www.issm.info/about/governance .

The ISSM Future Leaders invite you to provide input in important initiatives to help shape the future of ISSM.

Respond today and let your voice be heard!

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Background

Provoked Vestibulodynia (PVD) is pain to the touch at the vaginal opening. PVD is classified into two types:

Menopause is a natural transition that occurs when a person has gone at least 12 months in a row without menstruating (without birth control intervention). This is due to all of the oocytes (egg cells) in the ovaries being released, and usually occurs around age 50, with transitional symptoms (perimenopause) beginning in the mid-40s (U.S. averages). In some cases of oophorectomy, when both ovaries are removed, menopause may begin early.

Receptive anal intercourse (RAI) includes any sexual activity in which one partner inserts their body part (finger, penis, tongue) or object (sexual aids) into their partner’s anus and is more common than many may think. Approximately 36% of heterosexual women and 44% of heterosexual men have reported engaging in anal sex with a partner in their lifetime, and even more bisexual, lesbian, and gay men and women.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a condition that primarily affects women, but also a handful of men. Of the roughly 6 million Americans affected, around 80-85% of them are women of childbearing age. POTS is a type of dysautonomia, which is a group of neurologic disorders that affect the system that regulates the processes related to blood flow, heart rate, sexual arousal, and digestion. Specifically, when someone with POTS stands up, the body will release more adrenaline than normal to account for an above normal amount of blood pooling below the heart, which for an unknown reason, their blood vessels do not respond to very well. However, the heart still responds the same as a non-POTS person, leading to an increase in heartbeat without the right amount of blood flow. Due to this imbalance, lightheadedness, dizziness, and sometimes fainting can occur.

Background

Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a connective tissue disorder that can result in penile deformities through the buildup of plaque, creating abnormalities such as curvatures of the penis in any direction. The reported prevalence of PD varies greatly, between 0.4-20.3%. Ventral (downward) curvatures demonstrate much lower rates (11-17% of all PD cases) than dorsal (upward) or lateral (sideward) curvatures. The common concern with reversing ventral curvatures is interference with the urinary system, so finding effective and safe ways to treat men with ventral PD curvatures is imperative to providing care.

Androgens are a group of sex hormones that are typically associated with male development; however, all genetic sexes carry and produce androgens. Currently, there is insufficient research on the role androgens play in the sexual function of premenopausal women.

The Global Outreach Committee is pleased to announce five outstanding projects as recipients of this year’s $10,000 Global Outreach Grant. Chosen from a competitive pool of applications, these initiatives stood out for their potential to make a meaningful impact on sexual health education and care in underserved communities around the world.

The awarded projects are:

1. Improving Sexual Health in Ethiopia by Yehenaw Tadele Tenaw
This initiative addresses high STI rates, sexual abuse, and limited public awareness by offering free hybrid training to healthcare providers, social workers, and community leaders. It combines online courses, in-person workshops, assessments, and public campaigns to promote informed sexual health practices.

"Receiving the ISSM Global Outreach Grant is a tremendous honor and a vital opportunity for me and the communities I serve in Ethiopia. This support will allow us to address the significant unmet need for comprehensive sexual health training. The project is designed to be scalable and culturally tailored, combining nationwide online seminars with in-person workshops to ensure access for frontline healthcare providers,educators, social workers, and community leaders."

2. Promoting Continuing Education in Sexual Medicine in Latin America by Facio Fernando
Targeting countries with limited resources, this project enhances the technical and practical knowledge of healthcare professionals. It also provides accessible educational content for the general public, especially adolescents, through expert-produced audiovisual materials.

"Working on this project with SLAMS/ ISSM (Global Outreach Grants)to promote sexual education in Latin America will be a powerful and deeply meaningful experience. Our goal is simple yet urgent: to bring clear, accessible, and science-based information about sexual health to communities that often have limited access — especially in poorer countries".

3. Arabic Podcast on Women’s Reproductive Health in Lebanon by Sandrine Atallah & Gaël Abou Ghannam
This podcast tackles taboo subjects - from menstruation to menopause - offering culturally sensitive, expert-informed content in an accessible format. Aimed at women and healthcare providers, the series seeks to break silence, dispel myths, and empower listeners across the Arab world.

"This project means a great deal to us. As Arab women physicians, we are committed to breaking the silence surrounding topics like menstruation, fertility, postpartum sexuality, menopause, and vaginismus—topics too often left unspoken. With this podcast, we aim to offer accessible, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based information to thousands of Arabic-speaking women and the healthcare providers who serve them. This grant gives us the momentum and credibility to expand our impact and help normalize these crucial conversations."

4. ISSM-SMSNA Africa Initiative by Daniela Wittmann
A joint program that delivers comprehensive sexual medicine and health training for oncology providers in Africa. Building on five years of successful in-person and virtual education in Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa, the initiative continues to expand its reach and impact.

Sexual health is a topic that is rarely discussed as an aspect of cancer care globally. In response to an enthusiastic invitation by a Nairobi cancer center to bring education on sexual health in 2019, our team has continued to provide increasingly in-depth education, including clinical examples discussion with attendees. Our webinars have not only had solid attendance from Sub-Saharan Africa, but the program has also had participants from other parts of Africa and other continents. Participants tell us about their plans to incorporate sexual health assessment in their oncology practice which meets our goal and the goal of ISSM to have a positive impact on the quality of life of cancer patients in Africa.

5. Vietnam Transgender Health Project by Bac Nguyen
This project equips Vietnamese healthcare providers with essential knowledge in transgender medicine through online courses, workshops, and educational tools. It aims to improve quality of care and address persistent discrimination in healthcare settings.

"We are deeply honored and grateful to receive the ISSM Global Outreach Grant to support our project aimed at improving transgender care in Vietnam. This opportunity represents not only personal recognition for us at the Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, but also an important milestone for the medical and transgender communities in our country. This project carries deep personal and professional meaning. It reflects our commitment to inclusivity, patient-centered care, and the ethical responsibility to ensure that every individual, regardless of their gender identity, can access safe and appropriate healthcare services. We are confident that this initiative will have a meaningful and lasting impact on the transgender community in Vietnam, offering them the dignity, respect, and medical care they deserve."

We look forward to following the progress of these inspiring projects over the coming year and sharing their outcomes as they contribute to advancing global sexual health.

Testicular torsion is what occurs when the testicle rotates inside the scrotum, which then twists the spermatic cord, cutting off blood flow to the testicle. Often, this will present as severe pain and swelling, as well as a testicle that’s positioned higher than normal or at an unusual angle. This can be accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, frequent urination, discoloration, or a visible lump. While rare, testicular torsion is considered a medical emergency, and anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. If blood flow does not return to the testicle within 6 hours, there can be serious consequences, and the longer you wait for treatment, the more likely it is that you may lose the affected testicle.