ISSWSH Advanced Hormone Course: Maintaining Sexual Health on the Hormone Highway and Addressing Factors That May Cause Derailments

Overall Objectives:

1. To define the physiology of sex steroid hormones in female sexual function including estradiol, estrone, estriol, progesterone, testosterone.
2. To define the changes in hormone physiology, address impact on sexual function, and develop evidence-based treatments to help manage dysfunction in the following life phases:
   1. Puberty
   2. Gender affirmation journey
   3. Pregnancy
   4. Perimenopause
   5. Menopause
   6. Testosterone
   7. Cancer
3. To develop a framework for addressing sexual health concerns in complex patient cases with intersectional identities.

On Demand Modules / Live “Ask the Expert” For Registered Attendees

MENARCHE & BEYOND (Menses, PMS, PMDD, Contraception) | Live Event: Friday, April 25, 2025 - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT

Moderator: Sarah Cigna, MD, MS, IF
Speakers: Jill Krapf, MD, MEd, IF; Tami S. Rowen, MD, MS, FACOG, IF; John Vogel, DO, IF

3:00 – 3:05      Brief introduction to the course outline, Sarah Cigna, MD, MS, IF

3:05 – 3:30      Hormones 201 (review the sex steroids: estrone, estriol, estradiol, testosterone, DHEA, DHT, progesterone),  John Vogel, DO, IF

3:30 – 3:45      Basics of hormone physiology at time of menarche/pubertal transition, Jill Krapf, MD, MEd, IF

3:45 – 4:00      PCOS, Jill Krapf, MD, MEd, IF

4:00 – 4:30      Contraception and PMDD, Tami S. Rowen, MD, MS, FACOG, IF

4:30 – 5:00      Q&A

• • • The live interactive session, which take place on Friday, April 25, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT.
    • To view this on-demand, registered attendees will receive log ins to an online syllabus following the live session. 

GENDER AFFIRMATION JOURNEY | Live Event: Friday, May 30, 2025 - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT

Impact of gender affirming hormone therapy on sexual functioning and how to treat sexual dysfunction in trans and nonbinary people.

Moderator: Juliana (Jewel) Kling, MD, MPH, MSCP, FACP, IF
Speakers: Joey Bahng, MD; Aleece Fosnight, SPAS, PA-C, CSCS, CSE, NCMP; Asa Radix, MD, PhD, MPH

Learning Objectives:

1. Effects of gender affirming therapies and surgeries on hormones.
2. Organize by age at time of therapy starting (preventing puberty, young adulthood, midlife).
3. Highlight that hormones are not gendered!
4. Sexual Dysfunction in trans and nonbinary people - what does the existing data say.
5. How to address desire, arousal, orgasm, pain concerns in this population.

• • • The live interactive session, which take place on Friday, May 30, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT.
    • To view this on-demand, registered attendees will receive log ins to an online syllabus following the live session. 

PREGNANCY, POSTPARTUM & LACTATION | Live Event: Friday, September 26, 2025 - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT

Explore the impacts of fluctuating hormones during these times on sexual functioning and how to address concerns.

Moderator: Anita Mikkilineni, MD
Speakers: Johannes Bitzer, MD; Sarah Cigna, MD, MS, IF; Rossella Nappi, MD, PhD

Learning Objectives:

1. Pregnancy
   1. Physiologic changes in hormones and effects on sexual health.
   2. How to support pregnant people’s sexual health and treat dysfunction.
2. Postpartum
   1. Physiologic changes postpartum affecting sexual health and mood.
   2. How to treat sexual dysfunction.
3. Lactation
   1. Physiologic changes in regards to lactation and effects on sexual health.
   2. How to treat sexual dysfunction.

• • • The live interactive session, which take place on Friday, September 26, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT.
    • To view this on-demand, registered attendees will receive log ins to an online syllabus following the live session. 

PERIMENOPAUSE/MIDLIFE | Live Event: Friday, October 24, 2025 - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT

Physiology of estrogens and progesterones in perimenopause, effects on sexual function, and prescribing, highlighting ways to optimize sexual health and address concerns.

Moderator: Heather Quaile, DNP, WHNP-BC, CSC, IF, FAANP
Speakers: Alessandra Graziottin, MD; Rachel Rubin, MD, IF

Learning Objectives:

1. Symptoms and goals of treatment (local vs vasomotor symptoms and effects on overall health).
2. Vaginal/local therapies.
3. Systemic Estrogen and Progesterone therapies.

• • • The live interactive session, which take place on Friday, October 24, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT.
    • To view this on-demand, registered attendees will receive log ins to an online syllabus following the live session. 

MENOPAUSE - What Is Happening In Regards To Sexual Function And How To Manage With E And P | Live Event: Friday, January 23, 2026 - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EST

Physiology of estrogens and progesterones in postmenopause, effects on sexual function, and prescribing, highlighting ways to optimize sexual health and address concerns.

Moderator: Sameena Rahman, MD, FACOG, NCMP, IF
Speakers: Juliana (Jewel) Kling, MD, MPH, MSCP, FACP, IF; James Simon, MD, Holly Thomas, MD, MS

Learning Objectives:

1. Symptoms and goals of treatment (local vs vasomotor symptoms and effects on overall health).
2. Vaginal/local therapies.
3. Systemic Estrogen and Progesterone therapies.

• • • The live interactive session, which take place on Friday, January 23, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.
    • To view this on-demand, registered attendees will receive log ins to an online syllabus following the live session. 

TESTOSTERONE | Live Event: Friday, February 27, 2026 - Time to be Announced

What does the data actually say and how can it be used to treat sexual dysfunction?

Moderator: Sharon Parish, MD
Speakers: Susan Davis, AO, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, FAHMS; Mohit Khera, MD, MBA, MPH; Elisa Maseroli, MD

Learning Objectives:

1. The role of testosterone in human physiology.
2. Vaginal/local therapies with emphasis on practical elements of application to vulvovaginal concerns.
3. Systemic Testosterone guidelines with emphasis on practical elements of application to various patient concerns.

• • • The live interactive session, which take place on Friday, February 27, 2026 - Time to be Announced.
    • To view this on-demand, registered attendees will receive log ins to an online syllabus following the live session. 

BREAST & GU/GYN SPECIFIC CANCERS | Live Event: Friday, March 13, 2026 - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT

Impact of cancer and treatments on hormones and how to manage this safely for sexual health concerns.

Moderator: Corinne Menn, MD
Speakers: Laila Agrawal, MD; Carol Kuhle, DO, MPH; Holly Pederson, MD

Learning Objectives: (to follow)

• • • The live interactive session, which take place on Friday, March 13, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT.
    • To view this on-demand, registered attendees will receive log ins to an online syllabus following the live session.