Racial and ethnic minority populations bear a disproportionate burden of overall health concerns due to factors such as persistent health disparities, discrimination, stigma, education, geographic location, and poverty or low-income levels. Unfortunately, sexual health concerns also impact these communities at a higher rate than other communities. Importantly, these health disparities are not in any way caused by a person’s ethnic background or heritage, but rather by the societal factors and barriers to care that make it more difficult for minority groups to access important health information and quality health care services.

Ample scientific evidence suggests that youth who suffer from psychiatric disorders are more likely to experience difficulties during their sexual and gender identity development. Several factors may contribute to these difficulties, including feelings of low self-worth, trouble finding romantic partners, the sexual side effects of many psychotropic medications, and the higher-than-average prevalence of sexual trauma among individuals with mental health conditions. Nevertheless, sexuality remains an infrequently discussed topic between mental health care providers, adolescent patients, and patients’ parents.

Many people feel that drinking alcohol helps them to relax, lowers their inhibitions, and allows them to feel more confident during sex. Research confirms that, when used in moderation, alcohol is often associated with increased socialization, improved feelings of personal attractiveness and attraction toward others, and reduced inhibitions. While it may seem appealing, this dynamic may not always be beneficial for a person’s sexual health, and excessive alcohol consumption can be especially detrimental to a person’s sex life in a number of ways. (Keep in mind that moderate alcohol consumption is generally defined as no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men).

Phalloplasty and metoidioplasty are the two most common gender-affirming penile reconstruction procedures available to transmasculine patients at this point in time. For a phalloplasty procedure, the surgeon utilizes tissue from different areas of the patient’s body such as the forearm, thigh, and abdomen to construct a penis. Metoidioplasty involves releasing the clitoris from the tissues that hold it down and repositioning the genital tissues to create a neophallus, or “new penis.”

Yes, usually it is safe to have sex during pregnancy. The muscular walls of the uterus and the amniotic fluid surrounding the developing fetus protect it from outside forces, so engaging in sexual activity during a normal pregnancy does not harm the baby or the mother.

Transgender individuals may decide to seek gender-affirming care to transition their physical characteristics to match their gender identity. Two standard gender-affirming treatment options are gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and gender-affirming surgery (GAS). Individuals may choose to use GAHT as a standalone therapy or in combination with GAS.

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that cancer patients may experience changes in their sexual health due to cancer treatments. While most guidelines acknowledge the importance of addressing patients’ sexual health when they undergo cancer treatment, there continues to be a disconnect between the ideal standard of sexual health care and real-world practice. 

Some medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury (SCI), and dysraphism can result in neurogenic bladder dysfunction, which means that an individual lacks bladder control due to an issue with their nerves, spinal cord, or brain. When conservative measures to address neurogenic bladder dysfunction fail, sometimes patients opt to undergo a surgery to enlarge their bladder (augmentation cystoplasty) or a surgery to remove their bladder (simple or radical cystectomy).

Introduction

In recent years, there has been much debate in the medical/scientific community regarding the potential addictiveness of pornography. While some experts argue that pornography consumption can become an addiction in the form of a compulsive sexual behavior, others disagree and assert that pornography does not involve all of the components of an addiction and that the term “addiction” is too ill-defined to accurately describe this behavior. However, regardless of whether or not it can be addictive, there are instances in which excessive pornography use leads to personal and/or relational distress. For the purposes of the present study, this is referred to as problematic pornography use.

ISSM is pleased to announce granting 10 scholarships for the ESSM School of Sexual Medicine or the Advance Course. These courses will take place from 18 to 27 November 2022 in Budapest, Hungary. This is a perfect opportunity to enhance your knowledge in the field of Sexual Medicine. Read all about this scholarship offered by ISSM.

Apply now and submit your application!
The deadline for submissions is June 19, 2022. 

Many studies have demonstrated an association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, particularly in older men. Nevertheless, the causal relationship between these conditions remains difficult to define. For instance, depression and anxiety have been identified as risk factors for ED, but past research also suggests that having ED may predispose a person to developing depression or anxiety. What’s more, growing evidence has indicated a greater prevalence of ED in young men than what has historically been acknowledged. Therefore, it is increasingly important to clarify the association between ED and mental health conditions in young men.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that impacts the body’s central nervous system, which is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. For reasons currently unknown, when a person has MS, their immune system attacks the protective covering around their nerves (known as the myelin) and causes communication issues between the brain and the rest of the body. Depending on the severity of the condition, MS can cause a number of symptoms including vision problems, fatigue, dizziness, numbness, tingling, weakness in limbs, problems with bowel and bladder functions, and/or paralysis. These symptoms may be temporary or permanent.