News

ISSM is pleased to announce that 15 Travel Stipends will be provided to attendees of the 2016 World Meeting on Sexual Medicine being held in Beijing, China, September 2016.
Complete details on the stipends and an application can be found here: www.issm.info/grants1/travel-stipends-2016

Furthermore, ISSM will be providing 10 Scholarships to the ESSM School of Sexual Medicine taking place in Budapest, Hungary, October 2016.
Complete details on the Scholarships and an application can be found here: www.issm.info/grants1/issm-scholarships

In 2015, the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH) , and International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS) adopted a new vulvar pain and vulvodynia terminology that acknowledges the complexity of the clinical presentation and pathophysiology involved in vulvar pain and vulvodynia, and incorporates new information derived from evidence-based studies conducted since the last terminology published in 2003. The article “2015 ISSVD, ISSWSH and IPPS Consensus Terminology and Classification of Persistent Vulvar Pain and Vulvodynia.” has been published simultaneously in the Journal of Lower Genital Tract Diseases and Obstetrics & Gynecology and will be published soon in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Please click here for link to article in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Please click here for full text article in Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease.

PRESS RELEASE
 
Reference Articles:
Efficacy and Safety of Flibanserin for the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Loes Jaspers; Frederik Feys; Wichor M. Bramer; Oscar H. Franco; Peter Leusink; Ellen T. M. Laan; JAMA Intern Med. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.8565, Published online February 29, 2016.
and the accompanying editorial
US Food and Drug Administration Approval of Flibanserin, Even the Score Does Not Add Up, Steven Woloshin; Lisa M. Schwartz; JAMA Internal Medicine Published online February 29, 2016.

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- Press Release
- Bullet Points Reference Article
- Bullet Points Accompanying Editorial

February 29, 2016 - Science has been corrupted by bias and personal agendas resulting in publication of a distorted analysis of outcomes of research trials. As authorities in the area of sexual function and dysfunction in women, in particular hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), the Board of Directors of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH)¹ is concerned that the aforementioned articles would be accepted by and published as quality science and factual commentary. According to Levine, the diverse controversies involving treatments for sexual difficulties have resulted in stakeholders interpreting science for us in ways that support their political ideological views, economic interests, or skill sets.² This is clearly the case with regard to both the Jaspers et al. article and subsequent editorial response. We wish to set the record straight. When articles that reflect opinion rather than science are published in scientific journals, they harm those meant to be aided by science and medicine resulting, in this case, in a great disservice to the millions of pre-menopausal women suffering from HSDD.

We're excited to announce the availability of our full and detailed scientific program for the upcoming Annual Meeting to be held in Charleston, South Carolina, from February 25 to 28, 2016. For full details please visit http://www.isswshmeeting.org today. While you're there, please don't forget to register! See you in Charleston

Dear ISSWSH Members

Since the previous terminology of vulvodynia was accepted by the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disorders (ISSVD) in 2003, studies have explored possible causative factors and treatment options. The International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH), The International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disorders (ISSVD) and the International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS) believed there was an unmet medical need for a comprehensive, evidence-based set of vulvovaginal pain diagnoses that can be easily utilized by both expert and non-expert healthcare providers to establish diagnoses in their patients and to guide treatment. Therefore we discussed the possibility of revision of 2003 terminology and organized an ISSWSH sponsored international meeting in order to reach a consensus on the terminology of vulvar pain, April 8 - 9, 2015 in Annapolis, Maryland. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the National Vulvodynia Association (NVA) were also represented.

Dear ISSWSH members,

It is with tremendous excitement that we share the announcement that flibanserin, a drug for acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) developed by Sprout Pharmaceuticals, was approved by the FDA on August 18, 2015. This follows the June 4, 2015 meeting of their Advisory Committee whose members voted 18-6 for approval.