Sexual health is an important aspect of overall well-being, influenced significantly by hormonal changes throughout various life stages. From puberty to menopause and beyond, hormonal fluctuations play a pivotal role in shaping sexual health and function. Understanding these changes can help individuals navigate the complexities of sexual health at different ages.

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the ongoing inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sex. It affects up to 47% of men and becomes more common with age, increasing from 5% in men in their 40s to 15% in their 70s. Factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, alcohol use, obesity, and abnormal cholesterol levels contribute to ED and also to heart disease. Both conditions involve problems with blood vessels, making ED a potential early warning sign for heart disease.

During the transition to parenthood, new parents face numerous challenges, including sexual difficulties like reduced sexual desire, lubrication issues, and genitopelvic pain. Genitopelvic pain affects 8-10% of women generally but up to 45% of mothers six months postpartum. Factors such as pain before or during pregnancy, perineal trauma during childbirth, and breastfeeding can increase this pain.

This message is to inform you that currently a fake email account for the ISSM President Gerald Brock is being used, requesting to respond to ‘help with some delegate logistics service matters on behalf of ISSM’ and 'assistance with a transfer of 3.750 Euros for a delegate travel support'.

Please note that this account is NOT an email account from the ISSM president and please do not reply or click on any links in this message. It is best to delete it directly. If you reply to the email, they will send you even more messages and try to get you convinced to transfer money. This method is called a smart form of phishing.

Phishing

Phishing is a form of online scamming using fake e-mails, websites or messages. How can you identify those fake e-mails and how can you distinguish them from real messages? Smart cybercriminals can really make you doubt. Here are a number of tips to help you assess whether or not you can trust a message.

The basic rule: Cyber criminals always try to abuse something you believe in or someone you trust. They also often try to use fear to achieve their ends. Do not get tricked!

Tips

Did you get a suspicious e-mail or phone call? Then answer these questions:

• Is it unexpected? - You received a message for no reason: you did not buy anything, have not had contact with them for a long time, etc. Investigate further.
• Is it urgent? - Stay calm: did you really get a first reminder to pay? Do you know that 'friend in need'?
• Do you know the person who sent the e-mail? - Check the e-mail address, and also check for spelling errors. However, beware: a legitimate e-mail address is no guarantee.
• Do you find the request strange? - An official body will never ask you for your password, bank details or personal details via e-mail, SMS or over the telephone.
• Where does the link you need to click on lead to? - Hover over the link with your mouse. Is the domain name, the word before “.be”, “.com”, “.eu”, “.org”, etc. and before the very first slash "/", really the organization’s name?
• Are you being personally addressed? - Be wary of messages using general and vague titles, or your e-mail address to address you.
• Does the message contain many linguistic errors? - Although seasoned cybercriminals tend to use language correctly, language errors or a foreign language can indicate a suspicious message.

If you are in doubt about emails you receive from ISSM (now or in the future) or have any questions/concerns, please always contact us through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at: +31 75 647 63 72.

Kind regards,

ISSM Secretariat

ISSM extends congratulations to the awardees of the ISSM Scholarship for the ESSM School of Sexual Medicine Course in 2024. All applications have been carefully evaluated and scored by the ISSM Grants & Prizes Committee and approved by the ISSM Executive Committee.

We congratulate our ISSM Members:

• Carlos Zapata-Caballero (Mexico)
• Yasuni Manikkage (Sri Lanka)
• Anna Bonder-Nowicka (Poland)
• Dung Nguyen Tien (Vietnam)
• Shemssie Shewmollo (Ethopia)
• Rannia Shehrish (Bangladesh)
• Kateřina Potyszová (Czech Republic)
• Liliya Tryfonyuk (Ukraine)
• Angelika Kołomańska (Poland)
• Mariana de Souza (Brazil)

Are you looking to boost your knowledge in sexual health as well? The ESSM School of Sexual Medicine offers a 10-day residential course from November 15 to 24, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary and is perfect for healthcare professionals seeking to advance their expertise.

Key topics include:

• Sexual development
• Psychology & physiology of sexual response
• Ageing & sexuality
• Sexual dysfunctions
• Clinical skills
• Ethical & legal aspects

There is no need for special skills in surgery or psychotherapy and psychologists and therapists are also invited!
Join the course in Budapest from Nov 15-24, 2024, and advance your career in Sexual Health!

Sign up now!

Post finasteride syndrome may have sexual and psychological symptoms. In this video from the International Society of Sexual Medicine, an expert in the field of sexual medicine explains what post finasteride syndrome is and how it may be treated. 

Hepatitis is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver, and it can lead to serious health problems like liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. There are several types of hepatitis viruses, with the most common being hepatitis A, B, and C. Vaccination plays a crucial role in preventing hepatitis A and B, significantly reducing the spread of these infections. However, there are still challenges in achieving global hepatitis control.

Surgical education traditionally follows the “see one, do one, teach one” model, but this limits training opportunities to those presented by required patient surgeries. Improving surgical training, especially for penile prosthesis surgery, is important because there are limited working hours and high operating room costs. Current training methods are hindered by a limited number of accredited courses and a lack of suitable simulators or models. Cadaver labs are the primary training facilities, but these too are limited and costly.

Testosterone, a hormone predominantly produced in the testicles in men, plays a crucial role in a person’s health. It influences muscle mass, bone density, red blood cell production, and overall sense of well-being. As men age, their testosterone levels naturally decline, but some experience a significant drop, leading to a condition known as hypogonadism or low testosterone (Low T). When left untreated, low testosterone can have serious long-term effects on both physical and mental health in adult men.

Modern theories of sexual response suggest that sexual desire often comes after arousal and is triggered by sexual stimuli. According to the incentive motivation model, our bodies react to arousal by assessing sexual stimuli and encouraging sexual behavior, which is influenced by personal and external factors. This model is especially important for women with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD), a condition that affects up to one-third of women and involves a constant lack of sexual arousal or desire.

When considering weight loss medications like Ozempic (semaglutide), many patients wonder about potential interactions with other medicines, especially birth control. Understanding how these drugs work and interact is essential for maintaining effective contraception and overall health.