Press Releases

The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation and Columbia University Set date for 2006 Female Sexual Dysfunction Symposium - April 22, 2006 -

New York City, New York -- The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation (TWSHF), based in Cincinnati, Ohio and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons-Department of Urology recently concluded their first joint continuing education symposium on Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) and based on its success, announced the date for a 2006 event – April 22, 2006.

“The first one was so successful that Columbia University invited The Foundation to co-sponsor an FSD symposium as a joint annual event,” said Executive Director Lisa A. Martinez, R.N. J.D. “The Foundation is very pleased to have such a working relationship with Columbia and in particular with Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh, urologist and expert in FSD.”

Next year’s Female Sexual Dysfunction symposium will focus on treatment of FSD using state-of-the-art assessment and treatment modalities. “We will continue to take a multi-disciplinary approach to find the answers to the thousands of questions being raised about women’s sexuality,” adds Martinez, “but will focus next year on what will assist the healthcare provider in his or her everyday practice so that the provider can better serve their female patients who are struggling with sexual health problems. The focus will be on assessment and treatment in the office setting. Another focus of the 2006 seminar will be on how to set up a female sexual health clinic, addressing practical, logistical and operational issues.”

In April 2005, The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation in collaboration with Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons Department of Urology held the first continuing education symposium for healthcare providers on Female Sexual Dysfunction. Nearly two hundred people attended the event at Columbia University, some traveling from as far away as Israel and Australia. Medical doctors and specialists in internal medicine, urology, family practice and obstetrics/gynecology were present, as well as RNs, nurse practitioners, social workers, physical therapists, pharmacists and certified nurse midwives.

Two significant observations in thought and opinion regarding FSD were noted by surveying symposium attendees. First, the overwhelming majority of attendees indicated that sexual dysfunction problems should be approached from a multi-disciplinary approach. In other words, patients should undergo both a medical exam as well as a psychosocial assessment in order to evaluate their FSD.

“The belief that FSD could occur with a hysterectomy/oophorectomy is another significant change in opinion compared to several years ago,” said Martinez. (FSD includes decreased desire, arousal and orgasm.) The majority of attendees polled either agreed (34%) or strongly agreed (36%) with this statement.

Female Sexual Dysfunction is experiencing rapid growth in all areas of diagnosis, epidemiology, pharmacology and treatment. As a result, there is a great need to bring educational information from both the physical and psychological perspective to healthcare providers who traditionally have received little if any training in this area. Executive Director Lisa Martinez has been invited to make an oral presentation about the work of The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation at the World Congress of Sexology in Montreal in July. An abstract of her presentation can be found at http://abstracts.co.allenpress.com/pweb/sexo2005/document/?ID=46748

The 2005 symposium was supported by generous educational support from Procter & Gamble, Essential Group, Inc., QualiLife Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer, Palatin Technologies, Inc., VIVUS, and The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation.

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The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation, founded in 2003, is a non-profit international foundation whose primary mission is to educate the public and healthcare providers in the area of sexual health and sexual health difficulties. This foundation is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and is run completely by a volunteer staff and assisted by a professional advisory board, who also donate their time. The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation is the 2005 recipient of the Elaine Boynton Memorial Award which is given annually by Speaking of Women’s Health, a national women's foundation, to an organization that improves the lives, health and well-being of women. A grant will also accompany this award to help advance the mission of The Foundation.

The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation
PO Box 40603
Cincinnati, Ohio
45240-0603
e-mail: info@TWSHF.org