10th ESSM Congress Most Successful Ever - Over 2,100 Specialists Gathered In Lisbon Over Four Days

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 30 Nov 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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The 10th Congress of the European Society for Sexual Medicine closed on the last day registering the highest number of participations ever.

The number of participants at this year's congress represented an increase of 20% last year's. In all 2,132 specialists representing 43 countries were present in Lisbon over the four days of the congress this week to discuss the future of sexual medicine. Some 400 papers were presented during the congress, in 70 separate conferences. The Congress internet site has registered 38,000 visits (http://www.essm-congress.org).

Prof Nuno Monteiro Pereira, Chairman of Congress, said: "this edition of the congress was a great success that surpassed our expectations. At this congress we have put on the map some important issues of sexual health heretofore ignored. We hope to build on the findings of this congress to further improve understanding of sexual health issues in the medical world as well as among the general public."

Highlights of the 10th ESSM Congress

1. The fourth annual ESSM Award of Excellence was awarded to Professors Dr Carla Costa and Dr Pedro Vendeira of the University of Oporto for their ground-breaking research into erectile dysfunction in diabetics, during the 10th annual ESSM Congress taking place in Lisbon, Portugal. The study, entitled Bone-marrow Derived-cell Treatment for Diabetes-associated Erectile Dysfunction, provides new preliminary answers to erectile dysfunction that occurs earlier on in diabetics.

2. One of the main themes discussed at the congress was the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women and the importance of the couple as a unit, discussed in a number of sessions at the 10th ESSM. Until 2004, sexual medicine congresses mainly dealt with erectile dysfunction and rarely if ever tackled issues relating to female sexual health.

3. The European Sexual Dysfunction Alliance (ESDA) brought patients in to share their experiences and discuss difficulties in facing sexual problems. ESAD is an umbrella organisation that promotes knowledge and supports people with sexual dysfunctions.

4. Premature ejaculation affects more than 40% of men, being even more common than erectile dysfunction. Therapeutic options, pharmacological and-non pharmacological, for these two condition were also discussed.

About the Congress

The European Society of Sexual Medicine was founded in 1995 with the purpose of promoting scientific progress, education and cooperation between professionals in the field of sexual medicine and currently embraces 20 national societies with more than 1,400 members. Taking place at the Lisbon Congress Center, the 10th Congress is being hosted by the Portuguese Society of Andrology and gathers some 2,000 experts from across the world. The congress adopts an interdisciplinary approach in addressing the psychological, social, cultural and biomedical factors in the promotion of sexual health, satisfaction and intimacy through a series of lectures, round tables, interactive sessions and video courses.

http://www.essm-congress.org