קורס "בריאות מינית"

The Sexual Health course, led by Dr. Kobi Reisman, former President of the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM), provides medical students with the foundational knowledge, skills, and attitudes required in the field of sexual medicine. The course enables students to identify, assess, and provide an initial response to their patients’ sexual health needs. It develops competencies in taking a sexual history, creating an open and non-judgmental environment, providing information and guidance, and referring patients for further care when necessary.

The course structure and content are based on the curriculum developed and approved by the Multidisciplinary Joint Committee of Sexual Medicine (MJCSM) of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). This is the only recognized and approved curriculum in sexual medicine that meets European standards for medical training. Accordingly, the course is built around three domains: knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and is organized into five modules covering the biology and psychology of sexuality, sexual dysfunction across all sexual genders, sexuality throughout the life course with an emphasis on chronic diseases, including cancer, sexual minorities, and the impact of digitalization.

A central component of the course is the development of the ability to discuss sexuality, a topic that is often associated with discomfort and strong emotions for both healthcare professionals and patients of all sexual genders. The course provides tools for respectful, patient-centered, and non-judgmental communication, enabling students to initiate such conversations with confidence and sensitivity.

The course comprises approximately 28 academic hours, making it unique in comparison with other universities in Israel and around the world. While teaching in this field at many leading institutions remains limited, unstructured, and without a unified standard or defined curriculum, the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine offers a comprehensive program based on an internationally recognized curriculum.

The importance of the course is considerable. Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent, affects quality of life and relationships, and may sometimes serve as an early indicator of chronic conditions such as depression, fears, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Patients expect their physicians to be knowledgeable in this area, yet most physicians receive insufficient training in sexual health during their medical education. This structured course prepares students to approach these issues with confidence, sensitivity, and professionalism.