New Special Interest Group: Sexual Health

Since the last EAUN meeting, held at EAUN23 in Milan earlier this year, a new Special Interest Group (SIG) called SIG Sexual Health has been launched. I took the initiative to form this new SIG and approached several urology nurses during the EAUN23 meeting, inviting them to join me.

My idea of forming a SIG focused on sexual functioning in men was envisaged several years ago. At that time, as an EAUN board member and chair of the Scientific Congress Office, I had enough opportunities to bring attention to the subject of sexual functioning in men. After discussing it with fellow board members, I wanted to kick-start the SIG immediately after I finished my term on the board, so I did.

My interest lies specifically in andrology and men’s heath. I work as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)/advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) fully in andrology in a nurse lead outpatient clinic in a large teaching hospital in the Netherlands. I see patients, diagnose them and treat them with all different kinds of andrological conditions, ranging from erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism and Peyronie’s disease. Currently, I am conducting my PhD study on Peyronie’s disease.

Addressing female sexual function is an essential part of this SIG’s work as well. Within urology, female sexual function is also an issue, i.e. bladder cancer patients, receiving a urostomy. Another example is urinary tract issues and incontinence. That’s why we are delighted to have Rebecca Martin (GB) in our group too, because she is very specialised in this field.

In addition to Rebecca, Helen Battard-Bason (MT) and Mariet Lenaers (BE) have agreed to be part of the SIG as well. Together, the four of us will carry out activities expected from such a group,  such as organising webinars and sessions during the annual EAUN meeting.

We aspire to be an active SIG and collaborate with the other SIGs on overlapping subjects. If you are interested in the topic of sexual health and would like to join us, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Jeannette Verkerk-Geelhoed, MScN, PhD student and Chair, SIG Sexual Health, St Antonius Hospital (NL) – j.verkerk@eaun.org