What’s New At TWSHF

November 2004

Current Events and Announcements
Women’s Sexual Health Journal
November is Diabetes Month
 

Current Events and Announcements

Dr Beverly Whipple

Dr. Beverly Whipple, an Advisory Board member for The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation, was awarded the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) Public Service Award on November 6, 2004. The award states “In Appreciation For Her Outstanding Achievement In Promoting Public Awareness Of Sexual Issues Throughout Her Distinguished Career As An Educator, Researcher, Practitioner and Advocate.”

It was also announced that she is the first person to receive the two highest awards by SSSS. In 1998, while she was President of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), she received the SSSS Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award for, as the plaque says, “In recognition of her important research concerning female sexuality, the dynamics of female sexual response, and women’s health issues.”

Not only has Dr. Beverly Whipple been the only person to serve as President of AASECT and SSSS (the two largest sexuality organizations), but while she was president of SSSS in 2003, she received the AASECT Professional Standard of Excellence Award. That plaque says “AASECT Bestows this prestigious Award to Beverly Whipple for advancing the field of human sexuality through scientific research and international leadership efforts. Her exemplary work meets the highest standards of professional contributions. She has given greatly to the promotion of quality of life and sexual health throughout the world.”

Dr. Whipple is a Professor Emerita at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and the Vice-president of the World Association for Sexology.

The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation would like to congratulate Dr. Whipple on her Public Service Award.

2005 SSTAR Student Research Award (SRA)

I take great pleasure in announcing that Nicole Flory, a graduate student in Department of Psychology at McGill University, is the winner of the 2005 SSTAR Student Research Award (SRA). Her submission is titled "Psychosocial Effects of Hysterectomy".

Ms Flory's academic advisor on the project was Irv Binik. The award committee was chaired by Caroline Pukall and included Emily Impett (winner of the 2004 SRA) and Stephanie Kuffel (applicant for the 2004 award). The committee received submissions from the USA, Canada, China, and France.

Ms Flory will present her paper and receive the award at the 2005 SSTAR annual meeting in Boston, April 7-10.

I would like to recognize and thank Taylor & Francis, publisher of the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, Sexual & Relationship Therapy, and Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, for the support it is providing SSTAR in relation to the Student Research Award.

William L. Maurice MD, FRCP
Vancouver Community Mental Health Service
South Mental Health Team
Sexual Medicine Consultation Clinic
President, Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR)
http://www.sstarnet.org

FUTURE SSTAR MEETINGS:

2004 West Coast Clinical Conference, San Francisco (Menlo Park), CA - December 11

2005 Annual Meeting - Boston - April 7 - 10

2005 East Coast Fall Clinical Conference - NYC - Sept 16

2006 Annual Meeting - Philadelphia - March 16-19

Women’s Sexual Health Journal

This quarter’s issue of the Women’s Sexual Health Journal includes the following: a personal story from a man whose spouse’s lack of desire impacted them as individuals and their relationship for thirty years; the pros and cons for patients and providers of off label use of medication and the corresponding informed consent process; and a case study on Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS) and how diet may have been related to this previously little recognized syndrome that is now gaining attention in the medical community.

For information on how to subscribe to the Women’s Sexual Health Journal, an online journal, go to http://www.twshf.org/membership.html.

November is Diabetes Month

Less is known about how diabetes impacts sexual function in women than men. A diabetic woman may complain of decreased vaginal lubrication, inflammation of the vagina (vaginitis), or yeast infections. According to the Joslin Diabetes center, about 35 % of women with diabetes may complain of sexual difficulties, and about 40-50% of these women may have FSD because of nerve damage. Such nerve damage can make having an orgasm difficult or almost impossible.

Also if blood sugar has been high for a long period of time, testosterone levels may be lower, which may decrease the desire.

If you believe you are having sexual health difficulties because of diabetes, talk with your healthcare provider and your partner. Prior to your office visit, TWSHF recommends that you read the education brochure Talking With Your Doctor About Sexual Difficulties.

Other resources

Joslin Diabetes Center: Sexual Dysfunction and Diabetes

Women’s Sexual Health and Diabetes

Possible Correlation Between Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Female Sexual Dysfunction: Case Report and Literature Review

Antonella Bultrini, MD*, Eleonora Carosa, MD*, Elisabetta M. Colpi, MD*, Gianfranco Poccia, MD , Rossella Iannarelli, MD , Danilo Lembo, MD , Andrea Lenzi, MD§, and Emmanuele A. Jannini, MD*