Login

Sexual Medicine Curriculum

What is the curriculum in Sexual Medicine?

The curriculum has been developed for the guidance of candidates preparing for the European Examination in Sexual Medicine. Those who fulfill the requirements and pass the examination are entitled to become a “Fellow of the European Academy of Sexual Medicine (FEASM)”.

The curriculum attempts to indicate the relevant topics and seeks to emphasise the importance of psychological, physical and social factors that may affect sexual health. Although candidates may have different backgrounds of specialisation and interest, they should all have a basic education in all aspects of human sexuality and sexual function as they progress towards becoming a Fellow. They would then be able to offer an holistic, patient centred approach in the assessment and treatment of sexual problems.

THE CURRICULUM

  1. Sexual development  (9 hours)
    1. Sexual differentiation and development, including abnormalities, of male and female genital and reproductive systems
    2. Social and cultural factors
    3. Psychosexual development including gender identity and sexual orientation
    4. Incorporating sexuality into relationships
    5. Mating strategies and patterns of sexual behaviour

  2. Psychology and physiology of sexual desire, arousal and response (18 hours)
    1. Central nervous mechanisms
    2. Role of hormones
    3. Genital responses
    4. Orgasm, emission and ejaculation

  3. Impact of gender  (6 hours)
    Similarities and differences between men and women in
    1. psychophysiological mechanisms and how they are experienced
    2. patterns of sexual behaviour throughout life
    3. sexual attitudes
    4. sexual orientation

  4. Ageing and Sexuality  (6 hours)
    1. The effect of physiological, psychological and social factors throughout life
    2. Changes in sexuality throughout life

  5. Sexual Dysfunctions in men and women  (21 hours)
    1. Definitions and classification
    2. Epidemiology, pathophysiology and risk factors
    3. Differentiation between sexual dysfunction and short term, or transient, alterations of sexual function.
    4. Diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunctions
      1. Desire disorders
      2. Arousal disorders
      3. Orgasmic disorders
      4. Ejaculatory disorders
      5. Genital pain and pelvic floor disorders
      6. Structural / anatomical abnormalities

  6. Problematic or deviant sexual behaviour (9 hours)
    1. Paraphilias (exhibitionism, voyeurism, paedophilia, sadomasochism, fetishism etc.)
    2. Sexual offences (abuse, assault and rape)
    3. High risk, compulsive and / or addictive sexual behaviour

  7. Gender Identity Disorders (6 hours)


  8. Impact of other conditions on sexuality (12 hours)
    1. Somatic and psychic diseases and / or their treatment
    2. Sexually transmitted infections
    3. Sexual problems related to reproduction
    4. Drugs
    5. Sexual violence and abuse

  9. Clinical Management of sexual disorders (21 hours)
    1. Principles
      1. Evidence based medicine
      2. Combination of psychosomatic and somato-medical approach
      3. Interdisciplinarity
      4. Patient and couple centred
    2. Methods
      1. Establishing a sexual medicine clinic
      2. Counselling, Sex therapy, Psychotherapy
      3. Pharmacological
      4. Physical and surgical

  10. Ethical and Legal aspects of Sexual Medicine (6 hours)


  11. Research Methods related to Sexual Medicine  (6 hours)


  12. History of Sexual Medicine  (6 hours)