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Latest News from the ISSM - 26 September 2014 Member Login
Social Media Editors Chosen for Journal of Sexual Medicine

The ISSM is pleased to announce that Dr. Sandrine Atallah of Lebanon and Dr. Mikkel Fode of Denmark will become the new social media editors for The Journal of Sexual Medicine. To learn more about Drs. Atallah and Fode, please click here

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy May Benefit Couples Coping With Provoked Vestibulodynia

Canadian researchers have developed a pilot cognitive-behavioral couples therapy program that could help women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) and their partners. 

PVD causes sharp, burning pain in the vulvar vestibule area, making sex painful for many women. 

In the pilot study, trained therapists worked with nine couples.  One couple separated during the study period, leaving eight couples for data analysis.

Over twelve one-hour sessions, the couples learned more about PVD, improved communication strategies, and talked over issues like anxiety, anticipation, and avoidance of sex.

After treatment, women reported improved sexual function and less pain. Both men and women were less anxious and depressed. All couples said they had made sexual progress.

The study was first published online in July in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Please click here to learn more.

Experts Review Studies on Testosterone and Cardiovascular Risk

After conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of 75 studies, researchers from the University of Florence have concluded that there is no association between testosterone supplementation and cardiovascular risk.

Their work, published last month by Informa Healthcare, was prompted by recent concerns that some men on testosterone therapy could be at higher risk for cardiovascular events.

The Italian researchers searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases and identified 75 relevant studies. Combined, the studies included over 3,000 patients on testosterone and almost 2,500 patients who didn't have this therapy.

All of the reviewed studies were placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

“The present systematic review of the available evidence and meta-analysis of RCTs did not substantiate the view of T treatment as carrying any additional risk of CV-related adverse events, when hypogonadism is properly diagnosed and replacement therapy correctly performed,” the authors wrote.

For certain patients, testosterone therapy had a "possible protective role," they said.

They added that it was unclear whether testosterone therapy actually helped men without hypogonadism.

Men who are concerned about the health effects of testosterone should not stop therapy without talking to their doctor first, they said.

For more details on this research, please click here.

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