In this episode with guest Remziye Kunelaki and host Shelly Varod, we explore the nuanced world of sex therapy for LGBTQIA+ individuals. From the unique challenges and sexual dysfunctions, they face to the impact of stigma, discrimination, and minority stress on their sexual health. We also discuss the importance of inclusive training for sex therapists, and common misconceptions that still persist about sexual health.

Introduction

An inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is a permanent device that can be used to correct erectile dysfunction. However, despite constantly advancing surgical techniques, infection is still possible. This would require the removal and replacement of the device and is naturally a dreaded complication.

The ISSM is pleased to share the publication of a new article developed by the 2023–2024 Young Researchers Committee: "Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Sexual Norms: Key Insights from the International Society of Sexual Medicine Young Researchers Committee Survey."
The article has now been published in Sexual Medicine Open Access and is the result of a joint effort by the entire committee during their term.

We congratulate the committee on this achievement and extend special thanks to ISSM members Andrea Salonia, Bruno Nascimento, and Edoardo Pozzi, who finalized the manuscript.

Download the article

Gender-affirming surgery is available to support transgender individuals in aligning their physical characteristics with their gender identity and alleviating gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria occurs when an individual feels distressed by a disconnect from their own body due to their gender identity not aligning with their sex assigned at birth. For transgender women, gender-affirming surgery may consist of breast implants, facial feminization surgery, or vaginoplasty, and often all of them together.

A fear of semen may be attributed to several other conditions. One common reason is related to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Specifically, the contamination subcategory of OCD, in which obsessions (unwanted thoughts, feelings, urges, etc.) and compulsions (actions taken to relieve distress from obsessions) center on germs, illness, or contamination. These compulsions are fueled by disgust, which is a defensive reflex the body uses to avoid contamination. However, with OCD, that disgust is exacerbated by obsessions.

Circumcision, where the foreskin of the penis is surgically removed, is an extremely common procedure performed in both pediatric and adult urology practices. Outside of religious reasons (common among pediatric patients), adults may choose to be circumcised for a variety of other reasons such as visual aesthetic, penile cancer, and to prevent infections.

Intersex is a term that refers to individuals that were born with genitalia, chromosomes, or hormonal imbalances that fit outside of the sexual binary of male and female. For example, an individual may have genitals that are associated with being female, but at the same time have an internal reproductive system or hormones associated with being male, such as hidden testes and testosterone. They may also have variations in chromosomes, such as XXY (as opposed to the male XY and female XX), or a mix of XY and XX throughout cells, or just one X chromosome. Intersexuality does not always present at birth, and may show during puberty, adulthood, or sometimes not at all.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria enter the urinary system through the urethra and spread to the bladder. Most UTIs remain in the bladder, but if they reach the kidneys, it can become a more serious health concern. Common symptoms include a burning sensation while urinating (dysuria), cloudy or pink urine, and frequent urges to urinate, regardless of bladder fullness. Over half of all women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime, and up to 2.8% will develop recurrent UTIs (rUTIs), defined as three or more UTIs in a year or two or more within six months. Roughly 60% of rUTIs are linked to sexual activity, which may introduce bacteria into the urethra, while others result from hormonal changes due to menopause.

In this episode, we dive into how dating apps are shaping female sexual behavior—are they a tool for empowerment or a trap reinforcing old stereotypes? We explore the mental health impact of casual encounters, the effects on long-term relationships, and whether sexologists should guide clients through the digital dating world.

An individual’s sexual history consists of their sexual experiences, previous partners, sexual preferences, and uses of contraceptives, amongst other things. It’s important to discuss sexual history with a new sexual partner for a variety of reasons, mainly sexual health and safety. For example, if a new partner has a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that they have not disclosed, then your sexual health would be at-risk – even more so if protection such as condoms are not used.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has allowed for a multitude of improvements in medicine. Particularly, in the field of urology, AI has been used extensively in the processes of diagnosis, treatment planning, assessing the effectiveness of surgeries, and more. Beyond that, AI has been integrated into a variety of medical fields for diagnosis, education, and patient care. Perhaps with further analysis as to the effectiveness and ethics of AI, sexual health may be able to reap the benefits as well.

Vulvodynia is a chronic condition that affects the vulva with no clear cause, causing pain, burning, or irritation that lasts at least three months. Researchers believe that the development of pain-related systems in those diagnosed with vulvodynia may be caused by alterations in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. Specifically, previous research suggests the pain experienced from vulvodynia is a result of central sensitization, which is the hypersensitivity of areas in the brain that are responsible for acute pain processing.