Dear Colleagues, 

The 5th International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM) was a joint program/meeting of the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM), the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM), the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) that brought together experts from around the world. The journey of the ICSM 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.

For the 5th Consultation, an impressive 24 committees involving over 200 global experts worked diligently to translate emerging data into knowledge, knowledge into recommendations, and recommendations into improved patient care. The final document, expected to be published in early 2025, will be the culmination of evidence-based medicine, enriched by extensive clinical experience and our enhanced understanding of disease processes that impact sexual health.  

Warm regards, 

Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad, Chair, 5th ICSM.