A Guide to the Qualification Examination and ESSM Preparation Course
The qualification examination of the Multidisciplinary Joint Committee on Sexual Medicine (MJCSM)
Sexual Medicine is a discipline concerned with the impact of physiology and pathophysiology, psychology and psycho-pathology, relationships, socio-cultural influences, developmental effects, sexual identity, sexual behaviours, gender identity and intergender differences on the sexuality of men and women of all ages, both as individuals and within the context of their relationships.
Its aim is the restoration of sexual health, a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being with respect to sexuality, as well as the management of sexual problems.
The MJCSM was established by the UEMS specialist sections of Urology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Psychiatry and functions within the framework of their respective statutes and bylaws.
The main objective is to guarantee the highest standards of health care in the field of Sexual Medicine in the countries of the European Union and associated European countries, by ensuring that the training in Sexual Medicine is raised to the optimal level. The MJCSM shall recommend the content of training programmes, the access for training, and professional knowledge and skills for Sexual Medicine.
The MJCSM issues a certificate of recognition of quality of the training programme. Prior to entry into training in Sexual Medicine, candidates should be accredited in a medical specialty relevant to the practice of Sexual Medicine. Such specialities include Urology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine and General Practice, although this is not a comprehensive list.
The MJCSM determines the standards for training and assessment in Sexual Medicine. Successful candidates will be awarded on behalf of the MJCSM the title of “Fellow of European Committee on Sexual Medicine (FECSM)”.
In 2014, 128 physicians took part in the MJCSM exam and 104 received FECSM qualification.
Eligibility
The exam is set under the auspices of the UEMS but all nationalities, including countries outside the EU, are able to register for the exam.
Eligibility will be individually assessed according to the criteria set out below. The registration forms will be reviewed by the examination committee of the MJCSM. It is essential that applicants provide all the required information when registering and that their registration form is type-written.
Who can apply?
"Fellow of the European Committee on Sexual Medicine (FECSM)" is a particular qualification in Sexual Medicine awarded under auspices of the UEMS, the EU organisation with responsibility for specialist medical practice. To be eligible to take the examination, you must be:
- A registered medical practitioner
AND
- Accredited as a medical specialist in your country of practice,
OR
- A General Practitioner/Family Physician with more than 5 years' clinical experience of unsupervised independent practice
When registering for the exam, the applicant should deliver:
MANDATORY DOCUMENTS
- A fully-completed APPLICATION form
- Proofs of medical qualifications/university graduation (in English language) authorized proofs may be requested. (upload of documents)
- 2 letters of recommendation (from head of department or from specialist societies - only preformatted letters are accepted) (upload of documents)
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS
- License to practice or equivalent registration if applicable (upload of documents)
Please be prepared to upload mandatory documents in PDF format (Proofs of medical qualifications/university graduation, two letters of recommendation according to the preformat from the website) as well as your license to practice or equivalent registration if applicable.
Please note:
Your registration is not complete until:
Your registration is not complete until:
- All required documents are received.
- Your eligibility to sit the examination is confirmed by e-mail.
- The registration fee is received by CPO HANSER SERVICE.
Examination format
The exam duration will be 3 hours and is likely to include 100 MCQ in 5 domains of Sexual Medicine:
1. Basic science (including psychology) of the sexual response including sexual development
2. General sexual issues
a. Impact of gender
b. Impact of aging
c. Sexual orientation
d. Ethical and legal aspects
e. Historical aspects
3. Diagnosis and management of male sexual dysfunctions
4. Diagnosis and management of female sexual dysfunctions
5. Other sexual disorders
a. Gender identity disorders
b. Problematic and variant sexual behaviours
c. Impact of other conditions, including STI, cancer and cancer treatments
1. Basic science (including psychology) of the sexual response including sexual development
2. General sexual issues
a. Impact of gender
b. Impact of aging
c. Sexual orientation
d. Ethical and legal aspects
e. Historical aspects
3. Diagnosis and management of male sexual dysfunctions
4. Diagnosis and management of female sexual dysfunctions
5. Other sexual disorders
a. Gender identity disorders
b. Problematic and variant sexual behaviours
c. Impact of other conditions, including STI, cancer and cancer treatments
The content of the examination will be according to the curriculum of Sexual Medicine defined by the MJCSM.
The following list of topics is only a guide to the topics that will be included in the examination:
The Sexual Physician must have acquired, and must maintain, specialised knowledge in the following areas, including relevant basic sciences:
The Sexual Physician must have acquired, and must maintain, specialised knowledge in the following areas, including relevant basic sciences:
1. Sexual development
a) Sexual differentiation and development, including developmental abnormalities of male and female genital and reproductive systems
b) Social and cultural factors in sexual development
c) Psychosexual development, including the development of gender identity and sexual orientation
d) The incorporation of sexuality into relationships
e) Mating strategies and patterns of sexual behaviour
2. Psychology and physiology of sexual response
a) Central and peripheral neurovascular mechanisms, including the role of higher brain centres
b) Role of hormones and the immune system
c) Genital and other peripheral responses
d) Orgasm, emission and ejaculation
3. Impact of gender
Similarities and differences between men and women in:
a) Psycho-physiological processes and how they are experienced
b) Patterns of sexual behaviour throughout life
c) Sexual attitudes
4. Sexual orientation
a) Theories of causation
b) Epidemiology
c) Impact on sexuality, sexual response and behaviours
d) Evolution of socio-cultural attitudes
5. Ageing and sexuality
a) The effect of physiological, psychological and socio-cultural factors on sexuality throughout life
b) Changes in sexual response throughout life
6. Sexual dysfunctions in men and women
a) Definitions, classification and systems of nomenclature
b) Epidemiology, pathophysiology and risk factors
c) Differentiation between sexual dysfunction and short term, or transient, alterations of sexual function
d) Diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunctions
i) Desire disorders
ii) Arousal disorders
iii) Orgasmic disorders
iv) Ejaculatory disorders
v) Genital pain and pelvic floor disorders
vi) Structural/anatomical abnormalities
7. Problematic or variant sexual behaviours
a) Paraphilia (exhibitionism, voyeurism, paedophilia, sadomasochism, fetishism, etc.)
b) Variant (behaviours other than peno-vaginal intercourse) sexual behaviours
c) High risk, compulsive and/or addictive sexual behaviour
d) Paraphilia, variant sexual behaviour and the law
8. Gender identity disorders
a) Theories of causation
b) Definitions, classification and systems of nomenclature
c) Epidemiology
d) Diagnosis, management and standards of care
9. Impact of other conditions on sexuality and sexual function
a) Somatic or psychic disorders and/or their treatment
b) Sexually transmitted infections
c) Sexual problems related to reproduction
d) Iatrogenic sexual problems, including the impact of drugs, surgery and radiation
e) Sexual violence and abuse
10. Clinical management of sexual disorders
a. Principles
i) Evidence based medicine
ii) Combination of psychosomatic and somato-medical approaches
iii) Interdisciplinary collaboration in Sexual Medicine
iv) Patient- and couple-centred care
b. Methods
i) Establishing and managing a Sexual Medicine service
ii) Educational
iii) Psychotherapeutic
iv) Pharmacological
v) Physical and surgical
vi) Integrative care
11. Ethical and legal aspects of Sexual Medicine
12. Research methods related to Sexual Medicine
13. History of Sexual Medicine
A detailed and annotated Syllabus of Sexual Medicine has been published by the ESSM Education Committee
Read more about the syllabus at www.essm.org.
a) Sexual differentiation and development, including developmental abnormalities of male and female genital and reproductive systems
b) Social and cultural factors in sexual development
c) Psychosexual development, including the development of gender identity and sexual orientation
d) The incorporation of sexuality into relationships
e) Mating strategies and patterns of sexual behaviour
2. Psychology and physiology of sexual response
a) Central and peripheral neurovascular mechanisms, including the role of higher brain centres
b) Role of hormones and the immune system
c) Genital and other peripheral responses
d) Orgasm, emission and ejaculation
3. Impact of gender
Similarities and differences between men and women in:
a) Psycho-physiological processes and how they are experienced
b) Patterns of sexual behaviour throughout life
c) Sexual attitudes
4. Sexual orientation
a) Theories of causation
b) Epidemiology
c) Impact on sexuality, sexual response and behaviours
d) Evolution of socio-cultural attitudes
5. Ageing and sexuality
a) The effect of physiological, psychological and socio-cultural factors on sexuality throughout life
b) Changes in sexual response throughout life
6. Sexual dysfunctions in men and women
a) Definitions, classification and systems of nomenclature
b) Epidemiology, pathophysiology and risk factors
c) Differentiation between sexual dysfunction and short term, or transient, alterations of sexual function
d) Diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunctions
i) Desire disorders
ii) Arousal disorders
iii) Orgasmic disorders
iv) Ejaculatory disorders
v) Genital pain and pelvic floor disorders
vi) Structural/anatomical abnormalities
7. Problematic or variant sexual behaviours
a) Paraphilia (exhibitionism, voyeurism, paedophilia, sadomasochism, fetishism, etc.)
b) Variant (behaviours other than peno-vaginal intercourse) sexual behaviours
c) High risk, compulsive and/or addictive sexual behaviour
d) Paraphilia, variant sexual behaviour and the law
8. Gender identity disorders
a) Theories of causation
b) Definitions, classification and systems of nomenclature
c) Epidemiology
d) Diagnosis, management and standards of care
9. Impact of other conditions on sexuality and sexual function
a) Somatic or psychic disorders and/or their treatment
b) Sexually transmitted infections
c) Sexual problems related to reproduction
d) Iatrogenic sexual problems, including the impact of drugs, surgery and radiation
e) Sexual violence and abuse
10. Clinical management of sexual disorders
a. Principles
i) Evidence based medicine
ii) Combination of psychosomatic and somato-medical approaches
iii) Interdisciplinary collaboration in Sexual Medicine
iv) Patient- and couple-centred care
b. Methods
i) Establishing and managing a Sexual Medicine service
ii) Educational
iii) Psychotherapeutic
iv) Pharmacological
v) Physical and surgical
vi) Integrative care
11. Ethical and legal aspects of Sexual Medicine
12. Research methods related to Sexual Medicine
13. History of Sexual Medicine
A detailed and annotated Syllabus of Sexual Medicine has been published by the ESSM Education Committee
Read more about the syllabus at www.essm.org.
Prices and participation packages
Exam participation: 400 EUR
For the ESSM members, an attractive package fee is offered, consisting of
For the ESSM members, an attractive package fee is offered, consisting of
- the Preparation course
- the exam and the
- Congress participation fee
