The+British+Society+for+Sexual+Medicine

// The logo of the British Society for Sexual Medicine //  ** History of the British Society for Sexual Medicine **  Founded in 1997, the British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM) was originally called the British Society for Sexual and Impotence Research (BSSIR) (BSSM, 2010). It started as an organization dedicated to the research and dissemination of male sexual disorders, particularly erectile dysfunction (ESSM, 2010). Over time, the organization took on a “multi-disciplinary approach to the assessment, understanding, investigation, and treatment of male and female sexual disorders” (ESSM, 2010). This new approach prompted the organization to change its name on January 23, 2003, in order to encompass both sexes and their various sexual dysfunctions (BBSM, n.d). ** Purposes of the British Society for Sexual Medicine **  The British Society for Sexual Medicine’s website states that its “principal orientation is toward the basic science of sexual function and dysfunction, and the clinical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of sexual problems” (2010). It advances research into sexual functions and dysfunctions, as well as the dissemination of its research and knowledge throughout the United Kingdom (ESSM, 2010). The European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM), of which the BSSM is a member, emphasizes the fact that the BSSM facilitates and encourages cooperation and communication between its many diverse members, who work in the different disciplines associated with sexual health (2010). These disciplines include people as diverse as general practitioners, to clinical researchers, to psychologists. By embracing professionals from all fields, the BSSM ensures that members communicate between one another and that comprehensive knowledge is available to professional, as well as nonprofessional, readers. ** Membership in the British Society for Sexual Medicine ** Today, scientists, therapists, and any other health professionals involved in the discipline of human sexuality are eligible to join the British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM, 2010). Active members include health professionals working in the United Kingdom. Honorary members are prominent health professionals who have contributed to the BSSM in some way. Corresponding members are either health professionals not located in the United Kingdom, or people working towards the appropriate qualifications to gain active membership (BBSM, n.d.). This diverse pool of members, stemming from various human sexuality specialties, ensures that the BSSM is an all-encompassing organization in which different perspectives and opinions are considered. This allows the information from the society to reach many different groups of people, from general practitioners and their patients to the students working under a clinical researcher. Through their involvement, BSSM members have access to // The Journal of Sexual Medicine // and // Sexual and Relationship Therapy //(BSSM, 2010). These publications help members to stay informed on current human sexuality topics and research that they can then use to enhance both their personal practices and any studies they may develop or perform through the BSSM. Annual General Meetings are held by the British Society for Sexual Medicine in the autumn of every year (BBSM, n.d.). At these meeting, new candidates are elected into the Society and new Council Members are chosen (BBSM, n.d.). The BSSM also holds at least one annual Scientific Meeting, in which its members present and discuss recent developments in human sexuality research and clinical practices (BBSM, n.d.). Joint meetings are also held with other organizations such as the European Society of Sexual Medicine, the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) ,which all members can attend (ESSM, 2010; BSSM, 2010). These meetings are held in the United Kingdom, typically in London, although the last one will take place in Atlanta, Georgia. The BSSM’s members are its greatest source of information distribution, and giving them access to these journals, as well as facilitating cooperation between members through annual meetings or joint meetings, facilitates communication across all fields of human sexuality. ** Contributions of the British Society for Sexual Medicine ** The British Society for Sexual Medicine publishes “guidelines” on various subjects within the field of human sexuality (BSSM, 2010). These guidelines are short papers geared towards professionals in the medical field, but can easily be read by nonprofessionals. The organization regularly publishes one or two guidelines a year, and they are available to the public on the organization’s website. Although they are published for doctors and nonprofessionals in the United Kingdom, the guidelines can be accessed by anyone from the BSSM website at http://www.bssm.org.uk/downloads/default.asp. Current guidelines on the website include: · // British Society of Sexual Medicine Guidelines on the management of sexual problems in men: the role of Androgens // · // <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">British Society of Sexual Medicine Guidelines on the management of sexual problems in women: the role of Androgens // · // <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">British Society of Sexual Medicine Guidelines on the management of Erectile Dysfunction //<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">(2007 edition) · // <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">British Society of Sexual Medicine Guidelines on the management of Erectile //<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> // Dysfunction // (2009 edition) (BSSM, 2010). <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Other topics that the BSSM and its members are involved in include the effectiveness of Viagra on low levels of testosterone, gene therapy treatments for erectile dysfunction, and sexual addiction (Roxby, 2010; BBC News, 2007; Hutchinson, 2007). ** <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">References **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> // <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">BBC News. //<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">(2007, June 3). Gene therapy 'hope' on impotence. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6711213.stm <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">British Society for Sexual Medicine. (2010). // The British Society for Sexual Medicine //. Retrieved from http://www.bssm.org.uk/ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">British Society for Sexual Medicine. (n.d.). // British Society for Sexual Medicine Constitution //. Retrieved from http://www.bssm.org.uk/downloads/constitution.pdf <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">European Society for Sexual Medicine. (2010). // BSSM – British Society for Sexual Medicine (UK) //. Retrieved from http://www.essm.org/society/affiliated/bssm.html <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Hutchinson, Martin. (2007, May 25). Sex addiction: Does it exist? // BBC News //. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6691505.stm <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Roxby, Philippa. (2010, September 24). Viagra won't work for you, low testosterone men warned. // BBC News //. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11404927