The ISSM is pleased to announce the recipients of the Travel Stipends for the 27th World Meeting on Sexual Medicine in Porto, Portugal. Selected for their exceptional potential and dedication to the field, these individuals will receive support to attend this important global scientific event.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who joined us in Porto for the 27th World Meeting on Sexual Medicine, proudly organized in collaboration with ESSM. Your presence, expertise, and active engagement made this congress a remarkable success.

With participants representing countries across the globe and a rich scientific program covering the latest developments in sexual health, the meeting offered a valuable platform for exchange, learning, and meaningful discussion. The high level of interaction and collaboration truly reflected the strength of our international community.

We trust that the knowledge shared and the connections established during these days in Porto will continue to drive progress and innovation in the field. Thank you for contributing to the success of this meeting, and we look forward to welcoming you at future ISSM gatherings.

Check out some preliminary photos of the event here.

Background

Klinefelter syndrome (KF) is a genetic condition in which men have an extra X chromosome. Affecting between 1 in 500 and 1 in 1000 men, KF can cause differences in sex hormones that affect sexual function and fertility. In addition to these complications, KF may also cause metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, hair and muscle mass loss, and breast enlargement.

The ISSM is pleased to announce the recipients of the Travel Stipends for the 27th World Meeting on Sexual Medicine in Porto, Portugal. Selected for their exceptional potential and dedication to the field, these individuals will receive support to attend this important global scientific event.

Mondor’s disease happens when a blood clot in a chest, groin, or leg vein causes the vein to harden. This is most common in the outer breast area, and women are more likely than men to experience Mondor’s disease.

In this ISSM Podcast episode, clinical psychologist and sexologist Marieke Dewitte explores the complex impact of sexual abuse on survivors’ bodies, relationships, and sexuality. She explains how trauma can alter stress responses, body image, trust, and sexual functioning, including patterns such as hyper- or hyposexuality, genital pain, dissociation, and sexual risk-taking. Dr. Dewitte details common triggers in daily life and during sexual activity, including sensory cues and threats to safety or control, and clarifies the misunderstood phenomenon of automatic genital arousal during abuse. She then outlines a stepwise, trauma-focused therapeutic approach that prioritizes bodily and emotional safety, trust, boundaries, and agency before directly addressing sexual difficulties. Emphasizing trauma-informed care, she highlights the importance of predictability, validation, collaboration, and building on resilience to help survivors gradually reconnect with their bodies, intimacy, and pleasure. Interview by Shelly Varod.

Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) is a congenital disorder (meaning people are born with it) that affects around 1/5000 people assigned female at birth. Those with MRKH are born with an absent or underdeveloped uterus, cervix, or upper vagina.

Background

Vulvodynia is a chronic vulvar pain disorder of unknown cause, and can be persistent or provoked (with penetration, tampons, pelvic exams, etc.), beginning at any age. Typically, vulvodynia is diagnosed when symptoms occur in the absence of known infections, dermatological conditions, and neurological disorders.

The ISSM History Committee has achieved an important milestone with the publication of its committee-initiated manuscript in Sexual Medicine Reviews, “History of Peyronie’s Disease: From Early Descriptions to Modern Treatments.” This article represents the fourth manuscript initiated by the committee ISSM History Committee, underscoring its ongoing contribution to the historical scholarship of sexual medicine.

Authored by ISSM History Committee member Wayne Hellstrom and colleagues Fuell, McKnight, Lewis, Trost, Machado, and Miranda, the paper traces the evolution of Peyronie’s disease management from early clinical descriptions to modern, evidence-based care. It highlights the increasing role of validated nonsurgical therapies, while reaffirming the importance of surgical intervention in complex cases. Readers are invited to consult the full article in Sexual Medicine Reviews for comprehensive insights and conclusions.

Read the article here. 

“Plan B,” also known as the morning after pill, is a brand name for a type of emergency contraception that comes in the form of a pill. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that emergency contraception can be effective at preventing pregnancy up to 95% of the time when taken within five days following sexual activity.