Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Perspective
  • Published:

Shaping the future of sexual medicine in Europe

International Journal of Impotence Research (2025)Cite this article

Subjects

The European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) is committed to education and quality research in sexual medicine. Founded 30 years ago as the European Society of Impotence Research, our society has grown into a comprehensive organization that covers all areas of the field, including both physical and psychological aspects for all genders. This scope also includes transgender health, and our membership base reflects a range of personal, cultural, and professional backgrounds. We serve as a hub for sharing scientific knowledge through our annual congress and have developed strong educational programs and certification standards in sexual medicine and sexology. Key figures from 2024 are presented in Table 1. As current political and financial challenges require renewed efforts, I am committed—as the newly elected President—to be working with our executive committee, national affiliated societies, and individual members. Our efforts will remain focused on science, education, and the value of human diversity and scientific freedom.

Table 1 ESSM facts and figures 2024.
Full size table

High-quality research is at the core of sexual medicine. The introduction of oral medications for erectile dysfunction in 1998 backed by solid evidence is an example that transformed patient care by offering effective treatments and reducing stigma [1]. However, many areas still lack a strong evidence base, unlike fields such as oncology that rely on extensive research to guide clinical protocols. This gap must be addressed if we are to provide the best possible care for our patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: The ESSM is represented at national and international meetings in sexual medicine.

References

  1. Goldstein I, Lue TF, Padma-Nathan H, Rosen RC, Steers WD, Wicker PA. Oral sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:1397–404. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199805143382001

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kirana P-S, Gudeloglu A, Sansone A, Sokolakis I. Web based research in sexual medicine: a position statement of the European society for sexual medicine. Sex Med. 2023;11:qfad032. https://doi.org/10.1093/sexmed/qfad032

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Manfredi C, Boeri L, Sokolakis I, Schifano N, Pyrgidis N, Fernández-Pascual E, et al. Cell therapy for male sexual dysfunctions: systematic review and position statements from the European society for sexual medicine. Sex Med. 2024;12:qfad071. https://doi.org/10.1093/sexmed/qfad071

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Romero-Otero J, Lauterbach R, Aversa A, Serefoglu EC, García-Gómez B, Parnham A, et al. Laser-based devices for female genitourinary indications: position statements from the European society for sexual medicine (ESSM). J Sex Med. 2020;17:841–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.02.013

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Vasconcelos P, Carrito ML, Quinta-Gomes AL, Patrão AL, Nóbrega CA, Costa PA, et al. Associations between sexual health and well-being: a systematic review. Bull World Health Organ. 2024;102:873–887D. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.24.291565

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Dong J-Y, Zhang Y-H, Qin L-Q. Erectile dysfunction and risk of cardiovascular disease: meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;58:1378–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2011.06.024

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Mitchell KR, Lewis R, O’Sullivan LF, Fortenberry JD. What is sexual wellbeing and why does it matter for public health? Lancet Public Health. 2021;6:e608–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00099-2

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Van Dyck BE, Luyts N, van Renterghem K. Novel educational concepts in prosthetic urology. Int J Impot Res. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-01012-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kirana P-S, Gudeloglu A, Sansone A, Fode M, Reisman Y, Corona G, et al. E-sexual health: a position statement of the European society for sexual medicine. J Sex Med. 2020;17:1246–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.03.009

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Reisman Y. Sex in the 21st century: technology booming. Int J Impot Res. 2024;36:794–5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-023-00785-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. van Renterghem K. Education in penile prosthesis implantation. Int J Impot Res. 2023;35:620–2. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-023-00688-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Serefoglu EC, Reisman Y, Bitzer J, Vignozzi L, Jannini EA. The only available certification for sexual medicine: the fellow of the European committee sexual medicine (FECSM). Int J Impot Res. 2022;34:727–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-021-00506-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev, Denmark

    Mikkel Fode

  2. Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Mikkel Fode

Authors
  1. Mikkel Fode
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All contributions were made by Mikkel Fode.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mikkel Fode.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

Mikkel Fode is the President of the European Society for Sexual Medicine.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fode, M. Shaping the future of sexual medicine in Europe. Int J Impot Res (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-025-01115-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Version of record:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-025-01115-5

Search

Advanced search

Quick links