The Institute of Psychosexual Medicine (IPM) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, with its practitioners having helped thousands of patients with psychosexual difficulties over the five decades.
Members marked the milestone with a Gala Dinner, held during the IPM’s Annual Scientific Meeting in London earlier this year, which ran under the title ‘50 Shades of Therapy: The impact of psychosexual medicine 1974-2024’.
“Reaching our 50th anniversary is a real achievement,” said Dr Caroline Hunter, IPM chair. “The institute has evolved and expanded over the years but one thing has not changed: improving patient care through our training remains at the heart of everything the IPM does.”
A history of expansion
The IPM was established in 1974, when the NHS took over family planning clinics but not psychosexual clinics, prompting a group of doctors working under Dr Tom Main to bridge the gap. Dr Main, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, became Life President until his death in 1990. The IPM achieved charitable status in 1981, the IPM Journal (IPMJ) was established in 1991; and 1993 saw the first diploma exam take place. The institute launched its website in 2005 and left Chandos Street W1 for its new home in Chiswick in 2010. A major change came in 2014 when the IPM extended its training to nurses, physiotherapists, and other allied health professionals (AHPs), with the diploma being opened to them in 2018 and the membership exam in 2021. These important developments enabled successful AHPs to become full Members of the IPM and therefore accredited to accept private or NHS referrals in their own psychosexual clinics.
Accessible training for all
To improve the lives of people with sexual difficulties of psychological or emotional origin, the IPM offers skills-based training for doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, midwives and other AHPs from all related healthcare sectors. Available either in person or online, the training aims to provide practitioners with the skills required to enhance everyday practice and provide a more holistic approach to healthcare. Training sessions take place across the UK, with the IPM also expanding its operations internationally. Those interested in studying psychosexual medicine can take the Introductory Term as a taster course. This provides 12 hours of tutorials on a range of topics and seminars where cases are discussed, with the course counting towards the Diploma if candidates choose to continue their studies.
The IPM can also arrange bespoke training to suit the needs of specific healthcare teams or departments in a wide range of specialisms. These include cancer care, obstetrics and gynaecology, urology, pelvic physiotherapy, LGBTQ+, young people, and patients with learning or physical disabilities. For more information on the IPM’s training or to register for courses, visit their website or contact IPMtraining@ipm.org.uk. Updates from the IPM are also available via its Facebook, Instagram, and X channels.
