Aim: The ESSM CONNECT project aims to improve patient education and awareness in sexual medicine by producing high-quality and accessible materials. These may include written resources, informative mini-videos, and collaborations with patient associations.
Chairperson: Celeste Manfredi, Italy
Group Composition: The core group of ESSM CONNECT is composed of urologists, endocrinologists, psychiatrists, and gynecologists, ensuring a strong multidisciplinary foundation. To cover sexual health comprehensively, the project also draws on the expertise of external consultants, including general practitioners, psychologists and sexologists, physiatrists, pelvic floor physiotherapists, dermatologists, infectious disease specialists, oncologists, neurologists, geriatricians, patient representatives, and any other professionals deemed necessary to ensure a truly holistic approach. This extended network guarantees a 360-degree perspective, addressing sexual health across all relevant domains and patient populations
Urology
– Esther Garcia Rojo (Spain) – Team lead
– Mattia Lo Re (Italy)
Endocrinology
– Andrea Sansone (Italy) – Team lead
– Nunzia Verde (Italy)
Psychiatry
– Giedre Jonusiene (Lithuania) – Team lead
– Wojciech Merk (Poland)
Gynecology
– Nir Meller (Israel) – Team lead
– Laura Robin-Zell (Israel)
7. PCOS (Polycys’c Ovary Syndrome)
What It Means and What You Can Do
PCOS is a medical condition with a combination of reproductive, metabolic,
and psychological impacts.
PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-aged women
6. LOW SEXUAL DESIRE IN MIDLIFE
Understanding Changes and Rebuilding In3macy
Have you noticed a change in your interest in sex during midlife? You are not alone. Between the ages of 40 and 60,
changes in sexual desire are very common. While these shifts can feel frustrating or confusing, they are often part of
normal life transitions
5. PENILE CURVATURE (Peyronie’s Disease)
Understanding the conditions and knowing where to seek help
Peyronie’s disease is a condition that affects the penis. It is caused by the formation of scar tissue inside the penis, in a
structure called the tunica albuginea, which normally helps the penis stretch during an erection.
4. VAGINISMUS
Breaking the Cycle of Fear, Tension, and Pain
Vaginismus is a condition in which the muscles around the vaginal opening tighten involuntarily, making entrance, such as during vaginal intercourse, tampon use, or medical exams, painful or sometimes not possible.
3. LOW TESTOSTERONE (Male Hypogonadism)
When Symptoms Matter and What a Proper Check-Up Looks Like
Male hypogonadism is a condition in which the body does not produce enough testosterone to meet normal needs. When
testosterone falls below certain levels, some men may develop symptoms.
2. SEXUAL HEALTH IN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
Breaking the Cycle of Fear, Tension, and Pain
Depression is a major health burden and one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Around 10% to 16% of people experience depressive episodes.
Sexual problems are common in depression.
1. MALE INFERTILITY
Understanding Male Infertility
Around 1 in 6 couples experience difficulties getting pregnant — and male factors play a role in about half of all cases. This edition’s article covers what male infertility is, how it is diagnosed, and what patients can do while awaiting evaluation.
