Why sexual medicine?

Keynote speech by Prof. Carlo Bettocchi

Sexual medicine is a unique multidisciplinary area in medicine that incorporates a number of different medical specialties. Urology, gynaecology, general medicine, psychiatry, endocrinology and cardiology are all component parts of sexual medicine to varying degrees. Sexual medicine deals with questions of sexual education and dysfunction, gender development disorders, sexually transmitted infections and diseases of the reproductive system. Sexual medicine includes the clinical treatment of specific sexual disorders by means of medication, physiotherapy or surgery, rehabilitation after an injury or operation, sexual therapy or counselling in order to deal with the psychological aspects of sexual dysfunction, as well as education and advice to promote healthy sexual relationships.

Micronutrients and fertility – a discussion of the evidence

Presentation by Dipl.-Ing. Sophie Humer

Are Western industrial nations in a “fertility crisis”? Results from international meta-analyses come to the following conclusion: in the past 40 years the sperm count in men has reduced by 50-60 percent – with a simultaneous reduction in sperm vitality. Although we are far from having to talk of infertility in general, it is becoming increasingly difficult for couples to “fall pregnant together”.
The current publications therefore serve as a wake-up call to both research and politics that the negative trend seems to be on the increase. As well as illnesses or genetic defects, lifestyle is a major factor when it comes to fertility. Medications, stress, obesity, alcohol, smoking and in particular our Western diet, all impair fertility. Therefore, in order to support fertility, people often turn to food supplements that are advertised with highly promising slogans. However, which micronutrients actually live up to expectations and when is it primarily just a case of clever marketing? 

Sexual medicine/sexual health in Austria, situation and therapy concepts

Presentation by Dr. med. univ. Oliver Yamuti

According to the WHO definition, sexual health is “… related to the physical, emotional, mental and social state of well-being with regard to sexuality and does not merely mean the absence of disease, functional disorders or weakness.” 

How important is this topic in Austria and who is tackling it? Is sexual health merely a topic for minority groups or is it actually also a predictor of other more serious, e.g. cardiovascular diseases? Libido or potency disorders can represent an isolated clinical picture or affect and be affected by many medical areas in a multifactorial manner.
Which medical or therapeutic methods are available to the treating physicians and which behavioural or physical therapeutic methods are used? It is often not merely the identification of the problem but also the question of how the patient can be supported on the way to sexual health.