Infection, inflammation, and sexual function in male and female patients-recommendations from the Fifth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2024).
Facio F, Colonnello E, et al. • Sexual medicine reviews • 2025
Infections and inflammation, particularly sexually transmitted infections and non-communicable chronic diseases, dramatically affect sexual and reproductive health, and early detection, comprehensive treatment, and preventive measures are recommended to mitigate their effects.
Key Findings
Results
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) dramatically affect the sexual and reproductive health of individuals and couples, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender.
The review covered STIs as a primary category of infection impacting sexual health
Effects were noted to be independent of sexual orientation and gender identity
The review searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform
The consensus involved 10 experts from 6 countries
Results
Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) can directly impair the ability to copulate, reproduce, and enjoy sexual life through the common pathogenetic mechanism of inflammation.
Inflammation was identified as a shared pathogenetic mechanism linking NCDs to sexual dysfunction
Effects were noted across both male and female patients
The impairments identified included ability to copulate, reproduce, and enjoy sexual life
This finding was part of a consensus process producing recommendations graded as weak or strong
Conclusions
The expert consensus recommends prioritizing early detection, comprehensive treatment approaches, and preventive measures to mitigate the effects of infection and inflammation on sexual health.
Recommendations were graded as either weak or strong
Recommendations addressed both individual patients and couples
The document was presented for peer review and debate in a public forum at the Fifth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM) held in June 2024 in Madrid, Spain
Revisions were made based on recommendations of chairpersons of the 5th ICSM
Background
Infection and inflammation cause social, medical, and psychological problems that have a profound impact on sexual and reproductive health worldwide.
Sexual dysfunction arising from infection and inflammation was identified as an important clinical issue in both men and women
The impact was characterized as affecting sexual and reproductive health globally
Social, medical, and psychological dimensions of the problem were all identified
The review covered both communicable (infections/STIs) and non-communicable (chronic inflammatory) disease categories
Conclusions
The interconnections between infection, inflammation, and sexual dysfunction provide a foundation for improving patient outcomes and fostering global awareness.
The consensus document was developed by 10 experts from 6 countries
The literature review produced a list of recommendations graded as weak or strong
Both prospective trials (from ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO registry) and published peer-reviewed articles were included in the evidence base
The findings were intended to address both individual patient outcomes and broader public health awareness
What This Means
This research suggests that infections — especially sexually transmitted infections — and chronic inflammatory conditions are important but often overlooked causes of sexual problems in both men and women. A panel of 10 international experts reviewed the available scientific literature and reached a consensus that these conditions affect people's ability to have sex, reproduce, and enjoy their sexual lives, and that these effects cut across genders and sexual orientations. The panel found that sexually transmitted infections and long-term diseases driven by inflammation (such as certain chronic conditions) share a common thread in how they damage sexual and reproductive health.
The experts produced a set of recommendations — rated as either 'weak' or 'strong' based on the evidence — calling for earlier diagnosis of infections and inflammatory conditions, more holistic treatment strategies, and stronger preventive efforts. Importantly, they emphasized that treatment should consider the couple, not just the individual patient, recognizing that sexual health problems often affect both partners.
This research matters because it highlights that sexual dysfunction is not always purely psychological or age-related — infections and inflammation are real, treatable biological causes. This suggests that healthcare providers should routinely consider infections and inflammatory diseases when evaluating patients with sexual health concerns, and that public health efforts to prevent and treat STIs and chronic inflammatory diseases may have broader benefits for people's sexual and reproductive wellbeing.
Facio F, Colonnello E, Alzweri L, Citrin E, Dubinskaya A, Falsetta M, et al.. (2025). Infection, inflammation, and sexual function in male and female patients-recommendations from the Fifth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2024).. Sexual medicine reviews. https://doi.org/10.1093/sxmrev/qeaf021