Conference Insights: Women's Sexual Health and Spine Surgery

Introduction

• Event: ISWISH and ISSM Conference
• Location: Combined event on sexual health and medicine

Key Participants

• Dr. Tro Kim: Spine surgeon from San Diego, California
• Dr. Irwin Goldstein: Mentor and early researcher on the spine-pelvis connection

Purpose of Attendance

• Focus on Women's Sexual Health: Addressing overlooked issues in spine surgery related to sexual health disorders
• Spine and Sexual Health Connection: Understanding how neurological issues can impact sexual disorders

Case Study

• Patient Example: 30 years of clitoral and pelvic pain potentially linked to spine issues
• Intervention: Surgery by Dr. Tro Kim, leading to pain resolution

Research Insights

• Published Papers: Connection between disc problems in the spine and pelvic/sexual disorders
• Key Findings:
  • Disc disorders or tarlov cysts can be asymptomatic but may cause significant symptoms
  • Symptomatic disorder diagnosis and treatment can have an 80-90% success rate

Multidisciplinary Approach

• Importance: Collaborative care between different specialties is crucial for complex cases
• Example: Spine surgeons learning from sexual health presentations to better diagnose and treat patients

Future Directions

• Call to Action: Encourage increased collaboration across disciplines
• Ongoing Research: Continued need for innovative studies and methodologies in diagnosing and treating these conditions

Conclusion

• Attendees are committed to advancing the intersection of spine health and sexual health, driven by collaborative efforts and the desire to transform patient outcomes. The conference is a pivotal event for brainstorming, networking, and setting new standards in treatment and care.