The Multidisciplinary Committee of Sexual Medicine (MJCSM) and the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) collaborate in order to provide to medical doctors adequate qualification in Sexual Medicine since 2012. The result of the training is Fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine (FECSM). Our society is an affiliate society of ESSM and consequently a member of the ESSM.
In this section of NSSM website a part of information given on MJCSM’s web site is copied. To obtain full instructions please see https://www.mjcsm.org/guide-to-the-exam/
The MJCSM issues a “mark of excellence” 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 specialties 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 of Sexual Medicine (FECSM)”.
Become a Fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine (FECSM)
Certification Exam takes place every two years. The first examination was 2014. Next one will be on Saturday 22 April 2023. The examination will be held in an ONLINE FORMAT. By now, 386 doctors hold a degree of FECSM.
The MJCSM examination has received the CESMA (Council for European Specialists Medical Assessment) appraisal! https://www.uems.eu/european-examinations/cesma-appraisals-
The CESMA is an advisory body of the UEMS created in 2007 with an aim to provide recommendation and advice on the organisation of European examinations for medical specialists at the European level.
Who can apply?
A registered medical practitioner who is either
Accredited as a medical specialist (at least by the time before the Exam date) in the country of practice, with more than 18 months’ clinical experience in sexual medicine
OR
A General Practitioner/Family Physician with more than 5 years’ clinical experience of unsupervised independent practice in sexual medicine.
Therefore, you are eligible if:
1.1. you are a registered medical practitioner in your country and completed residency/training in a medical specialty. If your country does not recognize General Practice/ Family Medicine as a specialist of its own, you should be a general physician with more than 5 years of independent clinical practice.
AND
1.2. you completed education and training in Sexual Medicine such as courses, clinical clerkship, or other forms of education and experience in Sexual Medicine (e.g. ESSM School, sexology education accredited with CME by a National Scientific Society, MJCSM certified training centers) that will be evaluated as suitable by the exam committee.
AND
1.3 you have two recommendation letters using the preformatted template given in the online application, from a recognized sexual medicine specialist (FECSM) or key-opinion leader in the field of Sexual Medicine or head of department who is an active member of ESSM and/or ISSM or affiliated societies in good standing.
How to apply:
Candidates need to deliver the following documents:
A fully-completed APPLICATION form (online application system will open in 2022) which will include a comprehensive description of educational and clinical experience in the field of Sexual Medicine; may also include a list of publications in the field of Sexual Medicine, if any (not mandatory).
Upload proof of medical degree (University certificate) in English or Spanish or German or Italian or French.
Upoad two letters of recomendation above in English (according to the template that will be available on the application system).
Upload proof of licence to practice or equivalent registration from the medical authority in your country (if applicable), officially translated in English.
Upload three clinical case descriptions (a template will be provided on the application system). The clinical cases presented by the candidates should cover three different areas of sexual medicine (see the list of areas and topics available at the website). The clinical cases should be described by analysing the issues of clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Please be prepared to upload mandatory documents in PDF format.
The next examination
The next examination will be Saturday, 22 April 2023 at 15:00-18:00 CET and it will be an online format. Deadline for application is 9 October 2022.
Topics of examination
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:
- 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 - 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 - 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 - Sexual orientation
a) Theories of causation
b) Epidemiology
c) Impact on sexuality, sexual response and behaviours
d) Evolution of socio-cultural attitudes - Ageing and sexuality
a) The effect of physiological, psychological and socio-cultural factors on sexuality throughout life
b) Changes in sexual response throughout life - 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 - 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 - Gender incongruence
a) Theories of causation
b) Definitions, classification and systems of nomenclature
c) Epidemiology
d) Diagnosis, management and standards of care - 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 - 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 - Ethical and legal aspects of Sexual Medicine
- Research methods related to Sexual Medicine
- History of Sexual Medicine