A week combining surgery, education, institutional dialogue and cultural exchange marked the launch of the Central Asian Society for Sexual Medicine and the first Central Asian Congress of Sexual Medicine, held in Kyrgyzstan in July 2026.
For Prof. Daniar Osmonov, Chair of the ESSM Educational Committee, the journey to Kyrgyzstan was also a return to his roots. Together with Assoc. Prof. Nurbek Monolov and local colleagues, he brought together an international faculty to support the creation of the Central Asian Society for Sexual Medicine, establishing a new platform for education, collaboration and scientific exchange across the region.
The initiative was supported by several members of the ESSM leadership and faculty. Prof. Ege Can Serefoglu, ESSM Scientific Officer, and Assoc. Prof. Sam Ward, ESSM Communication Officer, participated in the opening activities in Bishkek. They were later joined at Issyk-Kul by Prof. Marieke Dewitte, ESSM Vice-President, and Prof. Koenraad van Renterghem, Chief of the ESSM Surgical Academy.
Education and Surgery in Bishkek
The journey began on 6 July in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, with two days of lectures, clinical discussions and surgical activities organised in collaboration with Ala-Too International University.
The international faculty was warmly welcomed by the Dean and representatives of the Faculty of Medicine. The meeting offered an opportunity to discuss the place of sexual medicine within undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, the importance of multidisciplinary training, and the need to prepare younger healthcare professionals to address sexual-health concerns openly, scientifically and without stigma.
The educational activities were accompanied by a strong practical component. Six surgical cases were performed with the support of Rigicon, allowing local physicians and trainees to observe and discuss patient selection, surgical planning, operative technique and postoperative management.
Rather than functioning as one-directional teaching, the surgical programme created a genuine exchange between international experts and local clinicians. Discussions focused not only on technical execution, but also on the realities of delivering prosthetic and reconstructive care in different healthcare systems, where access to devices, follow-up pathways and patient expectations may vary considerably.
Bringing Sexual Health into Institutional Dialogue
On 8 July, the delegation met representatives of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, including Minister of Health Damirbek Osmonov and Deputy Minister Bakytbek Kadyraliev. The official meeting addressed the development of urological and andrological services, the education of healthcare professionals and the importance of international cooperation.
The conversation also provided an important opportunity to place sexual health within the broader public-health agenda. Sexual dysfunction, infertility, intimate health and sexual education remain areas in which patients may experience embarrassment, misinformation or difficulty accessing appropriately trained professionals.
Particular attention was given to the challenges of sexual-health education, both for the general population and within medical training. The discussions highlighted the need to provide reliable, culturally appropriate information while respecting local values and social realities.
The meeting demonstrated that developing sexual medicine requires more than individual clinical expertise. Sustainable progress also depends on institutional recognition, professional training, referral networks and dialogue with policymakers.
From the Capital to Issyk-Kul
Following the activities in Bishkek, the faculty travelled through Kyrgyzstan’s remarkable mountain landscape to Issyk-Kul Lake, where the first Central Asian Congress of Sexual Medicine was held on 9 and 10 July.
More than 200 participants attended the two-day meeting, bringing together urologists, andrologists, gynaecologists, psychologists, sexologists, fertility specialists and other healthcare professionals from Kyrgyzstan and neighbouring Central Asian countries.
The setting provided a memorable background for the scientific programme. Issyk-Kul, surrounded by mountains and known for its natural beauty, became a meeting point between local experience and international expertise – and between established specialists and a new generation of professionals interested in sexual medicine.
A Broad and Genuinely Multidisciplinary Programme
The first congress day reflected the wide scope of contemporary sexual medicine. The programme opened with welcoming remarks from national and local representatives before moving into sessions addressing male and female sexual health, reproductive medicine, surgery, education and cultural considerations.
The opening scientific session examined the role of malleable penile prostheses in Central Asia, penile enlargement, the contribution of women to sexual medicine, cultural considerations in Islamic countries, and the relationship between infertility and the sexual health of couples undergoing assisted reproductive treatment. Marieke Dewitte shared her personal journey and discussed the importance of women’s participation and leadership within the field.
Female sexual health remained central to the programme. Presentations explored female orgasm, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery of the female genitalia, and body image and its influence on libido and orgasm. These sessions helped reinforce that sexual medicine cannot be limited to male dysfunction or surgical treatment, but must include psychological, relational, reproductive and sociocultural dimensions.
Ege Can Serefoglu presented the mission and vision of the European Society for Sexual Medicine, introducing participants to ESSM’s educational structure, multidisciplinary identity and commitment to evidence-based sexual healthcare.
One particularly relevant presentation addressed the tension between taboo and the digital world in the sexual education of adolescents and young adults in Kyrgyzstan. The subject illustrated a challenge shared across many countries: young people increasingly obtain information online, while access to structured, reliable and age-appropriate sexual education remains inconsistent.
The afternoon broadened the clinical discussion further, covering obstructive azoospermia, endothelial dysfunction and male health, penile cancer, oral sexual practices and dental health, and the evolution of penile prosthetic surgery. Koenraad van Renterghem reviewed the history of penile implants and the future development of prosthetic urology.
The final sessions returned to the regional context, examining the changing landscape of sexual medicine in Kyrgyzstan, male intimate aesthetics, idiopathic infertility and the psychological adaptation of patients following ectopic pregnancy.
The ESSM Summer School at Issyk-Kul
The second day was organised as an ESSM Summer School, with an emphasis on education, communication, patient expectations and practical clinical decision-making.
Koenraad van Renterghem opened the programme by presenting the educational concept and membership structure of the ESSM Surgical Academy. The session highlighted the importance of structured surgical education, mentorship and the progressive acquisition of competencies rather than reliance on occasional observation alone.
Communication was another major theme. Sam Ward discussed the role of social media in European sexual medicine, while Nurbek Monolov presented his experience using TikTok and Instagram. Their presentations examined how digital platforms can support professional education and public awareness, while also acknowledging the risks of oversimplification, misinformation and commercially driven content.
A dedicated session on myths, evidence and expectations included presentations on male sexuality, penile length and the perceived importance of penis size. Daniar Osmonov, Sam Ward and Marieke Dewitte approached these sensitive questions from complementary clinical, scientific and psychosexual perspectives. Ege Can Serefoglu subsequently addressed premature ejaculation, a highly prevalent condition that remains underrecognised and undertreated.
The afternoon returned to surgical and restorative treatments. Topics included step-by-step inflatable penile prosthesis placement, conventional and ectopic reservoir positioning, non-invasive treatments for erectile dysfunction and the evolving field of cosmetic penile procedures, including fillers and platelet-rich plasma.
The programme concluded with an interactive faculty round table. Patient counselling, realistic expectations, difficult cases, partner involvement, penile and implant sizing, and the prevention of complications generated an open discussion between faculty and participants.
These conversations were particularly valuable because many of the most difficult questions in sexual medicine do not have purely technical answers. Successful treatment also depends on communication, careful patient selection, shared decision-making and an understanding of the patient’s relationship, cultural environment and expectations.
Science Accompanied by Exceptional Hospitality
The scientific intensity of the programme was matched by the warmth of the Kyrgyz welcome. Traditional music, national clothing, local cuisine and informal gatherings created opportunities for participants to connect beyond the lecture hall.
The local hosts shared their culture with great generosity, transforming the congress into more than an academic event. Meals and cultural performances allowed international visitors and regional colleagues to exchange experiences in a relaxed atmosphere, strengthening the personal relationships on which future collaborations will depend.
The journey through the Kyrgyz landscape – from Bishkek to the shores of Issyk-Kul – also reinforced the distinctive identity of the meeting. The mountains, open valleys and lake provided an unforgettable setting for a congress devoted to openness, connection and a more comprehensive vision of sexual health.
The Beginning of a Regional Network
The launch of the Central Asian Society for Sexual Medicine represents an important step for the region, but the congress was conceived as a beginning rather than a conclusion.
By combining surgical training, multidisciplinary science, education, governmental dialogue and cultural exchange, the initiative demonstrated what can be achieved when local leadership is supported by international collaboration.
The strength of the new society will ultimately lie in its ability to connect professionals across countries, encourage younger colleagues to enter the field, support locally relevant research and provide patients with access to scientifically grounded and culturally sensitive sexual healthcare.
From the operating rooms and lecture halls of Bishkek to the shores of Issyk-Kul, the week created new professional connections, lasting friendships and a shared commitment to advancing sexual medicine throughout Central Asia.
