Dear Colleagues, 

Greetings and a warm welcome to the 5th International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (5th ICSM). This event, held under the auspices of the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) and its seven affiliated organizations, brings together experts from around the world. We have chosen Madrid, Spain as our host city for this occasion. Our journey began with the inaugural Consultation in Paris in 1999, marking a historic milestone in the field of sexual medicine. Over 120 global experts collaborated across 18 committees, resulting in a comprehensive publication that became a vital contribution and an important reference source for researchers, physicians, and patients alike. 

The success of the 1st Consultation led to substantial interest in sexual dysfunction basic and clinical research.  The 2nd Consultation in 2003, with the participation of over 100 world experts, furthered our understanding of sexual function and enhanced patient care. In 2009, the 3rd Consultation in Paris featured 125 experts across 25 committees. The 4th Consultation, held in Madrid, Spain, in 2015, marked substantial progress in our comprehension of the physiology, pathophysiology, and therapeutics for sexual dysfunction in both men and women. World experts were organized into 16 committees, leading to valuable insights.

Now, for the 5th Consultation, an impressive 24 committees involving over 200 global experts are diligently working to translate emerging data into knowledge, knowledge into recommendations, and recommendations into improved patient care. The final document will be the culmination of evidence-based medicine, enriched by extensive clinical experience and our enhanced understanding of disease processes that impact sexual health. We look forward to your contributions as we advance the field of Sexual Medicine together. 

Warm regards, 

Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad, Chair, 5th ICSM 2024.