Textbook of Female Sexual Function and Dysfunction

Diagnosis and Treatment

Irwin Goldstein, Anita H. Clayton, Andrew T. Goldstein, Noel N. Kim, Sheryl A. Kingsberg, Irwin Goldstein, Anita H. Clayton, Andrew T. Goldstein, Noel N. Kim, Sheryl A. Kingsberg

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781119266150
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Gynecology, Obstetrics & Midwifery

A comprehensive text on female sexual function and dysfunction that offers a multi-disciplinary, biopsychosocial approach to diagnosis and treatment

Textbook of Female Sexual Function and Dysfunction offers a multi-disciplinary, biopsychosocial approach and provides guidance for the safe and effective diagnosis and treatment of various sexual health issues. With contributions from an international panel of experts, the text provides the scientific basis of the clinical recommendations for dealing with problems of sexual, desire, arousal, orgasm and pain.

The text is clearly organised around the four major disease states in female sexual dysfunction (FSD) and is officially endorsed by the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH). The authors cover a wealth of topics such as hypoactive sexual desire disorder, psychological management of sexual disorders, anatomy and physiology of sexual dysfunction and pain and information on future developments and research. In addition, the text reviews all FDA approved medications for sexual dysfunction and contains consideration of off-label treatments for FSDs. This important text:

• Offers the only textbook to highlight female sexual dysfunction in light of recently approved FDA medications

• Contains a unique biopsychosocial approach from a collaborative team of physicians, psychologists, physical therapists as well as other sexual health professionals

• Presents a comprehensive text led by one of the foremost global experts in Women's Sexual Health, Irwin Goldstein, founder of ISSWSH, with three other past presidents and one president-elect

Written for any professional dealing with women's sexual health, Textbook of Female Sexual Function and Dysfunction offers an invaluable guide to the most safe and effective diagnosis and treatment.

1
History of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH)

Sue W. Goldstein

Abstract

The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) emanated from a course assembling experts in different disciplines, becoming the model for the society. Seventeen years later the society remains multidisciplinary, with annual meetings featuring state of the art lectures, symposia on controversial topics, and abstracts judged on scientific merit. Educational efforts expanded from a half day precourse to a fall course and another in conjunction with the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health annually. Evidence‐based conferences have included consensus panels for nomenclature for desire, arousal, and orgasm; pain; genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM); clinical guidelines for identification of sexual health problems; and a process of care for the management of hypoactive sexual desire disorder. ISSWSH is now established as the leading organization for disseminating valuable information to providers, researchers and educators regarding management of distressing sexual dysfunction in women.

Keywords: ISSWSH; women’s sexual health; female sexual dysfunction; multidisciplinary; desire; arousal; orgasm; pain; GSM; nomenclature

The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) is the only professional organization dedicated to women’s sexual function and dysfunction. The society was founded less than two decades ago. Therefore, the history of the society is directly linked to the history of the field.

The approval of sildenafil in 1998 by regulatory agencies and a publication in the New England Journal of Medicine [1] led women to call urologist Irwin Goldstein to demand a medication for their sexual health problems. There was a paucity of information about the physiology of sexual function and the pathophysiology of sexual dysfunction in women, but Goldstein wanted to change that. Under the auspices of Boston University School of Medicine, he developed a course entitled New Perspectives in Female Sexual Dysfunction, assembling experts in different disciplines to share their information in an effort to piece together available knowledge. This became the model on which the society was developed three years later.

The course was held in the Boston area in 1998, 1999 and 2000. The first year there were over 200 registrants from around the world. Associated with the 1998 course, the American Foundation for Urologic Diseases sponsored a consensus conference with 19 international experts, resulting in the development of nomenclature for use in women’s sexual dysfunction [2]. Prior to this time all nomenclature was based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association [3]. With the recognition of biologic components to sexual function, and the need to understand sexual dysfunction in women, the course was lengthened and podium and poster sessions added. Attendance doubled in 1999 with many returning registrants. When queried about interest in initiating a society, the response was negative. The following year, however, the group had an overwhelmingly positive response and the Female Sexual Function Forum was born.

The society was developed in a multidisciplinary manner with by‐laws designating that each committee and the board of directors be balanced in terms of gender, geography, and discipline. All disciplines with an interest in women’s sexual health would be welcome in the society, with all active members having equal import, regardless of profession, specialty or degree. Many members of the inaugural board continue to be active members, a testament to both the strength of and need for the organization. One of the first society benefits was the start of a moderated on‐line forum (ISSWSHNET) for difficult cases that facilitated communication among people from various locations, disciplines, and perspectives. Having gone through multiple iterations, ISSWSHNET remains a benefit for society members.

The format of the first meeting set the tone for future meetings, with state of the art lectures, symposia on controversial topics, and abstracts judged on scientific merit for podium or poster presentation. The hot topic through the first several annual meetings was the use of androgens in women, transitioning later to oral contraceptives and sexual dysfunction. The first business meeting and election were held on 28 October 2000, with Sandra Leiblum voted in as the first president (Figure 1.1).

Figure 1.1 Sandra Leiblum, PhD, first president of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, presiding over the business meeting.

After a year as the Female Sexual Function Forum it was noted that the word “female” could refer to animals, so, in 2001, the organization was renamed the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. Alessandra Graziottin from Italy ascended to the presidency but the board remained stable to help the fledging society. Only active or honorary members could serve on the board or as committee chairs, as affiliate members were associated with industry. The society struggled financially but survived through the fierce passion of the board and the support of its management company.

Nearly 400 people attended the 2002 meeting in Vancouver – the first time this group met away from Boston. Held shortly after the publication of the widely publicized Women’s Health Initiative [4], the leadership responded by adding a lunch seminar to disseminate accurate information and help dispel myths propagated by the press. Symposia were designed to span both the biological and psychological realms in the basic science and clinical arenas. While moving the 2003 meeting to Amsterdam was exciting, it put the society at risk, with a decrease in attendance and increase in meeting costs. Under Cindy Meston’s leadership, a development committee was established to seek industry support to help underwrite the conference, as is common among many other societies, with the long term goal of financial stability.

Lorraine Dennerstein put her presidential stamp on the society by recruiting young...