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ESDA participating conferences

• European Society of Sexual Medicine Congress (ESSM).
  
  
  • In 2004 ESDA also hosted stands at the European Federation of Sexology Congress and the European Federation of Neurological Associations Congress.
  • Abstracts and posters on the work of ESDA are presented at the ESSM Congress each year.
    
    
• EFS Congress. ESDA held a session on the work of ESDA countries May 2004.
• Presentations on the work of ESDA have been given to various European patient groups such as those representing IBS, Diabetes and M.S.

These conferences are of vital importance in order to give the patients perspective more exposure and increase ESDA's visibility in Europe. ESDA wants to expand these activities in future and would require funding to support the participating ESDA affiliates.

Abstracts:

1. European Federation of Sexology Congress - Brighton UK May 2004

European Sexual Dysfunction Alliance (ESDA), an umbrella organization for sexual dysfunction helplines in Europe.

Milagros Lemos¹, Ann Tailor,² John Pryor,³

ESDA was formed in 1998 to help coordinate existing helplines in Europe and provide the framework for other countries wishing to set up. There are currently affiliated helplines in 12 European countries. ESDA's main role is to bring together and support these Associations with the aim of raising awareness of the incidence of sexual dysfunction and educating sufferers and their partners, the media and health professionals on the causes and treatments available. The main methods used to achieve this are helplines, websites and the press. The member organisations give confidential advice and support via telephone helplines, email and letter. Each organisation is independent and responsible for funding their operation.

The Sexual Dysfunction Association in the UK has held an awareness day on 14th February since 1996. In February 2004 the second pan-European awareness event, jointly run by ESDA and the European Society of Sexual Medicine, took place. A total of fourteen countries joined this year's campaign making it the largest of its kind in Europe. ESDA is currently working on projects including a European-wide database which will enable the helplines to address the needs of callers with greater effect.

¹AESS, Spain, ESDA Co-ordinator, ²SDA, UK, ESDA Co-ordinator, Chairman

2. European Society for Sexual Medicine - London December 2004

A pilot study to evaluate the needs of callers to the helplines affiliated to the European Sexual Dysfunction Alliance (ESDA)

Milly Lemos¹, Ann Tailor², John Pryor², Miguel Cebrian³

Objective: The object of this pilot study was to implement a new software application in the ESDA helplines. This would help to create a unified pan-European registry enabling ESDA to evaluate the information provided anonymously by the callers in the course of their conversation with the helpline adviser.

Design and method: The pilot study was carried out by eight ESDA helplines throughout the months of July and August 2004. The calls were recorded in each country, then integrated in the global ESDA database and analysed, country by country and globally.

Results: Preliminary results of this pilot study for 2489 calls are interesting with regard to the profile of the average caller to the ESDA helplines. The male/female distribution was similar in all countries with 81% male callers approximately. The average age of the callers was 41 years. Analysis of the total number of callers who asked about oral treatments in the different countries showed similar results. Globally 48% asked about Viagra® , 44% about Cialis® , 7% about Levitra® and 1% about Uprima® . Data regarding the most common sexual dysfunction reported showed that in male callers erectile dysfunction (ED) was the most common globally (73%) followed by premature ejaculation (17%). In female callers lack of sexual desire was the main problem consulted (35%) followed by orgasmic dysfunction (21%).

Conclusions: This software application has increased the understanding of caller needs in the different countries, helping ESDA to improve its services and develop more effective public awareness strategies across Europe. It will enable ESDA to produce European statistics as well as statistics at a national level on a regular basis and monitor any changes that occur in caller needs.

Acknowledgements: Project supported by Lilly ICOS in association with ESDA