Gender-affirming vaginoplasty is a surgery to create a vaginal canal and vulva (including the clitoris) for transgender, non-binary, or gender diverse individuals who wish to align their physical characteristics with their gender identity. People who undergo gender-affirming vaginoplasty may have different goals or priorities related to their gender expression, the appearance of their genitals, and/or their sexuality when it comes to surgery. For some, the ability to orgasm after vaginoplasty is an important goal.

Dear ISSM members,

The publication committee (PUBCOM) of the ISSM is pleased to announce an opening for the Editor-in-Chief position for ISSM’s journal Sexual Medicine Reviews – see the attached job description.

The editor will serve a 3-year initial term with a possibility of a 5-year extension based upon evaluation by the PUBCOM and the executive committee of the ISSM. Applications should be sent to the ISSM business office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by July 31, 2022.

 Applications should contain:

• A current CV with complete bibliometric data, according to Scopus, and a full description of previous experiences on Editorial Boards of related journals
• A description of applicant’s vision for the journal with special reference to how to brand the journal and how it fits into the ISSM publishing portfolio.
• The applicant must also include the names and contact details of two referees. 

Applicants from all over the world, of different gender and ethnicity, of different scientific backgrounds related to sexual medicine will be welcome.

The applicants will be screened by the Search Committee Members on receipt of the necessary documents by the business office of the ISSM by the deadline of July 31, 2022. Finalists will be interviewed by members of the search committee in September/October 2022.
Applicants should be ISSM Full members in good standing.

It is anticipated that the editor’s term will begin January 1, 2023. An honorarium commensurate with the role of the editor will be available.

Search Committee Members:

• Emmanuele A. Jannini, Italy – PUBCOM Chair
• Lawrence Hakim, USA – PUBCOM Vice-Chair
• Paolo Capogrosso, Italy – PUBCOM Member
• Serkan Deveci, Turkey – PUBCOM Member
• Hui Jiang, China – PUBCOM Member
• Zdravko Asenov Kamenov, Bulgaria – PUBCOM Member
• Sheryl Kingsberg, USA – PUBCOM Member
• Hyun Jun Park, Korea – PUBCOM Member
• David Rowland, USA – PUBCOM Member
• R. Clinton Webb – USA – PUBCOM Member
• Irwin Goldstein, USA – Current EiC SMR
• Gerald Brock, Canada – President Elect ISSM
• Arthur Burnett, USA – Treasurer ISSM
• Annamaria Giraldi, Denmark – President ISSM
• Kwangsung Park, Korea – Secretary General
• Luiz Otavio Torres, Brasil – Past President ISSM

Job description - Editor-in-Chief Sexual Medicine Reviews

About Sexual Medicine Reviews:

Sexual Medicine Reviews (SMR) publishes invited evidence-based in-depth reviews, (both systematic and narrative), of the highest caliber on multi-disciplinary clinical or translational topics in Sexual Medicine. It may also publish official society consensus reports. These reviews, published quarterly, embrace wide-ranging, comprehensive subject matter related to male, female, and couples sexual function and dysfunction.

The scope of SMR must reflect the diversity of subjects in basic science and clinical practice that define sexual health, sexual function, sexual dysfunction, and sexual medicine. SMR is targeted at the sexual medicine investigator, practitioner, and trainee, but is also explicitly intended to appeal to, and serve the needs of, a broader audience of generalists and specialists with interest in, or in need of a high-quality overview of, a specific topic in sexual medicine.

Sexual Medicine Reviews has been included in PubMed since 2020 and has an Impact Factor of 4.836.

Responsibilities:

The Editor-in-Chief (EIC) is the head of the editorial team of SMR. The EIC is responsible for:

• Solicitation of systematic, scoping and narrative reviews across a broad spectrum of It is expected that a balance of subjects and gender‐related sexual health issues is covered annually.
• Ensuring an adequate flow of material to meet the publication schedules. (Solicited articles must be peer-reviewed through ScholarOne with the Editor making reviewer assignments and manuscript )
• Assembling sufficient copy for the publication of 4 issues a year.
• Assisting in the appointment of other members of the editorial team for the journal.
• Attending conferences to promote the journal and develop and/or expand the network of contacts within the field to serve as a pool of both potential authors and reviewers.
• Chairing Editorial Board meetings.
• Working cooperatively with the Managing Editor’s office and periodically liaise with the publisher.
• Monitoring journal performance to identify areas for improvement and take action as appropriate.
• Ensuring that appropriate editorial standards are upheld.
• Building excellent communications and relationships with Editorial Board Members and authors.

It is imperative that the EIC is held in high regard by colleagues in the field of sexual medicine, with a significant number of publications and proven experience as a subject thought-leader.
It is imperative that the EIC has sufficient, and regularly scheduled time to devote to the success of this journal.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications:

• A physician with postgraduate qualification/experience in sexual medicine, endocrinology, psychiatry, urology, andrology, and gynaecology or a psychologist with postgraduate qualification/experience in sexual medicine or a related discipline with an appreciation for sexual function and dysfunction of both genders in order to maintain a balance of content
• An interest in scientific research and current knowledge and future directions of the field
• Knowledge of typical editorial and peer review processes
• Strong analytical/critical appraisal skills
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills
• Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues at all levels
• Ability to provide leadership to the editorial team
• Ability to read and write fluently in English
• A global perspective is required as the journal represents a variety of international societies.
• An active member of the ISSM and remain so during his/her tenure.
• Have previous editorial experience (as an Editorial Board Member, Associate Editor and/or Deputy Editor or Editor-in-Chief of scientific journals in the field)

Term and Compensation:

• The editor will serve an initial 3-year term with the possibility of a 5-year extension based upon an evaluation by the Publication Committee and the Executive Committee of the ISSM.
• It is anticipated that the Editor’s term will begin January 1, 2023.
• An honorarium commensurate with the role of the editor will be available.

Application:

• Applications should be sent to the ISSM executive office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by July 31, 2022.
• The applicant must include a current CV. The applicant must include 2 letters of recommendation from active ISSM members.
• Applicants should be ISSM full members in good standing.
• The prospective editor’s proposal should include a list of possible topics for three issues, including a wish list of Authors. Authors should be well published, from many different regions, representing research in different aspects of men’s and women’s sexual health.

At ISSM, we are committed to being an inclusive society where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect. We believe that diversity is one of the cornerstones of a vibrant culture and we seek to promote the benefits of diversity in all of our activities. We welcome applications for our open editor position from people of all backgrounds, irrespective of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief.

Contact details:

ISSM Executive Office
Zaanweg 119a, 1521 DS Wormerveer, The Netherlands
Phone: +31-75-6476372
Fax: +31-75-6476371
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All urologists actively in practice treating sexual health conditions are being asked to participate in this survey of study organizer Sarah Schrup, led by study investigator Matthew Ziegelmann.
The purpose of this research is to explore personal and practice characteristics of sexual medicine urologists as well as job satisfaction and wellness.

Please use this link to complete the survey: https://tinyurl.com/2p85xbc9

• This is a research study. Being in this research study is your choice; you do not have to participate. If you decide to join, you can still stop at any time.  You should only participate if you want to do so. You will not lose any services, benefits or rights you would normally have if you choose not to take part.
• Study participation involves responding to a short survey (around 5 minutes). No information about you that could be used to identify you will be collected (ie. name, date of birth, medical record number).
• There are no immediate risks associated with this study. There are no costs to you for being in the study. The goal of the study is to gather information; you will not directly benefit from participation.
• You may contact the study organizer Sarah Schrup at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or study investigator Matthew Ziegelmann at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

An erogenous zone is any part of the body that elicits sexual arousal when touched. Although most people think of the genitals when it comes to sexual touch, other parts of the body are erogenous zones as well and can bring a person great sexual pleasure. In fact, a 2016 study that mapped the preferred erogenous zones of 704 participants found that the entire body can be sensitive to sexual touch, but erogenous zones vary from person to person.

Dear ISSM members,

This message from me as ISSM President arrives at a time of mixed emotions: there is war in Ukraine that makes us worry about the state of the world, but there is also hope of a new dawn as the pandemic seems to be at the far end of its journey. There is real excitement at the prospect of finally meeting each other in person at the ISSM-SMSNA Scientific Meeting on Sexual Medicine to take place in Miami, USA from October 27-30, 2022.

Last month, I finally had the opportunity to travel again and meet the ISSM Executive Committee in person for the first time since we last met in March 2020. We had our yearly strategy session to discuss the future of the society.

We discussed that one of the successful projects that started due to the pandemic in 2020 is the ISSM Webinar Series. This month, we will organize our 24th webinar! On average, we welcome 200 live attendees to each ISSM webinar. Did you know that if you cannot join the live webinar, you still have the opportunity to view the webinar on demand, at a time and place convenient for you? Check out the past webinars here.

I would like to thank again the ISSM Education Committee for all the work they have put into the webinars, lead by the vice-chair Patrícia M. Pascoal from Portugal, and of course also a big thanks to all the faculty members involved!

The ISSM Education Committee, led by chairman Landon Trost, also continues to work hard on finalizing the ISSM Curriculum on Sexual Medicine for ISSM members to complete on the ISSM University. We can already begin the unveiling, as in the strategic session of the ISSM EC it was discussed that we work on expanding the ISSM University to make it even more beneficial for members. It is really exciting, and I hope to be able to update you soon with more information.

The ISSM/SMSNA Scientific Committee, under the great chairmanship of Alan Shindel and Linda Vignozzi, is working hard on finalizing the program of the joint meeting in Miami. The program will soon be announced, so keep an eye out for it on the website.

ISSM and/or SMSNA Members who have submitted an abstract are eligible to apply for a travel stipend that will cover travel, living expenses, and meeting registration fees. The deadline to apply is July 1, 2022, so make sure to send in your application. Applications from those working in lower-income countries and/or who are experiencing financial hardship will be given priority.

The ISSM Communication Committee continues to work hard on providing answers to public questions on sexual medicine through the ISSM social media channels and the ISSM website. They will shortly announce the social media prize again, where the registrant to the ISSM-SMSNA meeting in October 2022 with the best Twitter coverage will be awarded with the Social Media Prize, worth USD 500!

At the end of the joint ISSM-SMSNA meeting in Miami, I have to hand over the ISSM presidency already. Time went by so fast and so much has been achieved with the great help of all ISSM committees and members. Fortunately, I know the ISSM is in good hands with Gerald Brock as the new ISSM President per November 2022.

Are you ready to take a seat at the leadership table? Last week, we sent out a call for nominations for positions in the ISSM Board of Directors. The deadline to submit your self-nomination or nominate an ISSM colleague for one of our open positions is July 4, 2022. Open positions include ISSM President-Elect, ISSM Treasurer, and 3 Members at Large. ISSM seeks to have members in leadership positions who represent the geographic and multidisciplinary nature of the society. Visit the ISSM website for the criteria, eligibility, and nomination instructions.

The Sexual Medicine Reviews Journal, one of the four official ISSM Journals, is soon also accepting applications for the position of Editor-in-Chief (start per October 2022). The SMR represents the diversity of subjects in basic science and clinical practice that define sexual health, sexual function, sexual dysfunction, and sexual medicine. SMR is targeted at the sexual medicine investigator, practitioner, and trainee, but is also explicitly intended to appeal to and serve the needs of a broader audience of generalists and specialists with interest in or need of a high-quality overview of a specific topic in sexual medicine. Sexual Medicine Reviews has been included in PubMed since 2020 and has an Impact Factor of 4.836. More information will be made available soon!

The Young Researchers Committee, under the great leadership of Andrea Salonia, has worked on developing a survey on the Perception of Sexual Norms. This is currently in its pilot phase and the committee is looking forward to presenting the preliminary results to you during the scientific meeting in October. I can’t wait to see the results.

Currently, there are also 3 consultations on sexual medicine running. One on New Regenerative Interventions in Sexual Medicine, one on Female Genitopelvic Pain, and one on Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder and Hypersexuality. The preliminary results will be presented to you during the scientific meeting in October. Even more reason to attend!

As you can see from this list of accomplishments, our committees are vibrant and productive groups within the ISSM. We depend on our members to volunteer their time and expertise to carry out the mission and work of the organization. Thank you to all whose contributions to our committees move both ISSM and the field of sexual medicine forward.

Please remember that if you have ideas or suggestions for projects, you can always contact the members of the ISSM Executive Committee or contact our Executive Office.

I look forward to welcoming you all in Miami soon!

Warm regards,

Annamaria Giraldi
President ISSM

Ps. on the photo, from left to right: Kwangsung Park, Annamaria Giraldi, Gerald Brock, Luiz Otavio Torres, Arthur Burnett. 

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for prostate cancer. Unfortunately, it has been shown to negatively affect a man’s sexual function in some cases. In particular, the association between prostatic radiotherapy and erectile dysfunction (ED) is well documented, despite it generally showing better sexual health outcomes than radical prostatectomy (surgery to remove the prostate and surrounding tissues) in the short term.

For busy couples facing seemingly endless demands upon their time, it may feel like sex always takes a back seat to work, education, chores, parenting, and other important priorities. Certainly, the ebb and flow of sexual activity is normal in a long-term relationship, and putting off sex may even be necessary in times of major life changes such as soon after childbirth. Nevertheless, if it is consistently difficult for you and your partner to find time for sex in your day-to-day lives, the following are a few things you can try.

Gender dysphoria is the distress that an individual may feel due to their gender identity not matching the sex they were assigned at birth. While gender dysphoria typically affects transgender and gender diverse individuals, it is important to note that not all transgender and gender diverse people experience it, nor does everyone seek gender-affirming care.

Introduction

Depression is one of the most frequent health disorders in the world, according to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD). In fact, a 2017 GBD study revealed that approximately 258.2 million people worldwide were diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) at the time of the study, and this number is almost certainly lower than the actual count, as depression is an underreported/underdiagnosed condition.

Discrimination against members of minority groups such as the LGBTQIA+ community can have serious ramifications when it comes to the overall health and well-being of these individuals. (LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and all other gender and sexual identities).

The association between alcohol abuse and erectile dysfunction (ED) is well-documented in medical literature. Healthy erectile functioning relies on signals being passed effectively through the body’s nervous system and good blood flow to the penis, which are two processes that alcohol consumption can hamper (at least temporarily). In particular, chronic alcohol abuse has been shown to lead to an increase in erectile difficulties in men, though luckily these effects may be reversible.

The ISSM Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for five open positions on the ISSM Board of Directors: President-Elect, Treasurer, and three Members-at-Large. Any ISSM member in good standing may seek election for these positions by submitting a petition for nomination signed by 20 full members of the society. Petitions must be received by the Secretary-General by July 4, 2022.