European Society for Sexual Medicine

The European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) is a not-for-profit, multidisciplinary, academic and scientific organisation dedicated to male and female sexual health and dysfunction.
The main purposes of the ESSM are:

• To promote research and exchange of knowledge about the clinical entity of sexual dysfunction throughout Europe.

• To establish and support the highest standards of ethics in clinical practice, education, and research in the field of sexual dysfunction.

• To promote the cooperation and improve interaction between European researchers and clinicians in sexual dysfunction.

• To provide education to clinicians who had limited or no experience in the field, as well as continuing education to those involved in the management of sexual dysfunction.

• To provide patients, the public and the media with accurate and updated information about male and female sexual function and dysfunction.

• To develop programs, promoting public and health authorities’ awareness within Europe, on the prevention and treatment of sexual dysfunction.

We invite all of you, with specific interest to the field to join the Congress, serving common goals for the benefit of the patients and the public in general.

ESSM History
In 1994 in Singapore, during the ISIR (now ISSM) Annual Congress, the ESIR (European Society for Impotence Research) idea was born as the European development of the International Society for Impotence Research.

In 1995 ESIR was born and the first Congress was held in Porto Carras, Greece. Our journey began into medical knowledge, research and innovation across Europe.
In 1997 the second Congress was held in Madrid. The third Congress was held in Barcelona in 2000, after the tremendous earthquake that hit Turkey in 1999, where the Congress should have been held.

In 2001 the name of the Society changed into ESSIR (European Society for Sexual and Impotence Research) in order to embrace more deeply the broad field of sexual medicine, both male and female.

This brought also to the need of our congress to be held each year, so in 2001 the Congress was held in Rome and the year after, in 2002, in Hamburg. Starting from 2001 the Society continued its development, changing again its name into the actual ESSM (European Society for Sexual Medicine) in 2003, characterizing once again its need to improve and spread the research into sexual medicine, a field which is continuously developing across the world, bringing sexual awareness to light more and more not only in the medical field but also among people.

In 2003 the congress was held in Istanbul in 2004 in London and in 2005 in Copenhagen.
The year 2005 marked the 10th anniversary of ESSM, a society which is always stronger and more deeply rooted across Europe, with 13 National Societies affiliated to ESSM and about 1400 members.

The European Society for Sexual Medicine is an independent medical society and the European Representative of the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM).

The ESSM welcomes new applications for membership from individuals who are interested in the field of Sexual Medicine or related medical disciplines.
ESSM Presidents

2010-2013
Hartmut Porst, Germany

2007-2010
Ian Eardley, UK

2004-2007
Francesco Montorsi, Italy

2001-2004
Dimitrios Hatzichristou, Greece

1999-2001
John Pryor, UK

1997-1999
Inigo Saenz de Tejada, Spain

1993-1997
Gorm Wagner, Denmark

Interested potential new members can opt for either:

• A combined ESSM/ISSM membership for both Sexual Medicine Societies (ESSM/ISSM) including all their special membership related services, the subscription of the Journal for Sexual Medicine, the monthly issued official journal of the ISSM and ESSM, as well as reduced registration fees for all ISSM/ESSM related congresses.