SEXOLOGY, SEXUAL HEALTH, SEXUAL MEDICINE

RECENT CHANGES IN THE FIELD

Abstract

Sexology is undergoing major changes in terms of development of international organizations (WAS, ISSM, EFS, ESSM, Flasses, SLAMS, etc…), development of professional training, creation and use of international standards of professional certification, and development of peer review journals. It stands at a cross-road between sexual health, sexual medicine and sexual rights. Parallel to this development, we are currently confronted to the globalization of sexology and sexual health through a complex process of unification of the scientific and professional standards. Different countries (France, Brazil, Japan, European countries) have their own history in sexology which started at the beginning of the XXth century and which allowed the development of original and specific traditions and orientations in this field. The paper present some results of a project including a short history of sexology and a mapping of its social organization in different countries in order to understand the implication of the participation of sexologists in regional and global networks. Among other topics, the poster will discuss the specific focus (or absence of focus) in sexual rights and will try to identify the influence of the pharmaceutical industry in the development of the globalization of sexology.