WAS in Lisbon, menopause webinar, and more

View this email in your browser Dear WAS Members and Friends, In this issue:  - Today: a co-organized WHO webinar on menopause health - Our upcoming June webinar on the role of NGOs in promoting LGBTQIA+ rights - WAS at the 18th Congress of the European Federation of Sexology in Lisbon - WAS's endorsement of the ESCRH position paper on SRHR - And new open-access research from the International Journal of Sexual Health on doxycycline-based STI prophylaxis. TODAY: WHO WEBINAR Beyond Symptoms: Understanding the Diverse Realities of Menopause Worldwide WAS is a co-organizer the first in a new webinar series on menopause health, together with WHO, HRP, FIGO, and the AUB WISH Program. The series examines overlooked and emerging topics in menopause within a life-course framework, recognizing the menopausal transition as a critical stage in women's health that requires integrated clinical and public health responses. The opening session brings together evidence-based knowledge, lived experiences, and practical guidance to support menopause care and wellbeing. In an engaging Q&A format, speakers will take questions from women and their providers on menopausal care, wellbeing, resilience, and quality of life. Register here COMING UP: WAS JUNE WEBINAR The Role of NGOs in Promoting LGBTQIA+ Rights Thursday, 18 June 2026 | 15:00–16:30 SAST Across the world, NGOs are holding the line on LGBTQIA+ rights. Their work holds lessons for the global sexual health community. This webinar is organized by the WAS Finance and Fundraising Committee. Committee Chair Stefano Eleuteri, researcher in clinical psychology at Mercatorum University in Rome, will chair the session, joined by fellow committee members René de Klerk (Executive Director, WAS) and Luis Perelman (Founder, El Armario Abierto).  Register now to secure your place. Register now 18TH EFS CONGRESS, LISBON An Official Federation of WAS 28–30 May 2026 | Lisbon, Portugal The 18th Congress of the European Federation of Sexology (EFS) took place last week in Lisbon under the theme Sexuality, Society and Science: Evidence and Facts, organized by EFS in partnership with the Sociedade Portuguesa de Sexologia Clínica. WAS had a significant presence throughout the program.  - The EFS is an official federation of WAS. For this reason, WAS President Faysal el Kak was included in the opening ceremony to welcome delegates to the 18th Congress of EFS, remind participants of the important relationship between WAS and EFS, and confirm WAS’s full support of all our regional federations. - WAS President Faysal El Kak served on the Scientific Committee and delivered an invited talk on Menopausal sexuality at the intersection of society and science: Reclaiming rights, pleasure, and evidence-based care. - WAS also convened its own symposium, co-chaired by President El Kak and Immediate Past President Elna Rudolph, covering sexual health across the life course, digital sexuality and emerging risks, and sexual health of vulnerable and marginalized populations.  - Immediate Past President Elna Rudolph, also an invited speaker at EFS, presented a talk on the Porto Proclamation.  - The WAS Education Committee hosted a roundtable.  - Two long-standing members of the previous Advisory Committee of WAS received the EFS gold medal. Elsa Almås, a previous and long-standing AC member and previous Chair of the WAS PES Committee, presented the first gold medal lecture in a plenary session, just before the welcome cocktails. WAS Past President Pedro Nobre was also awarded the EFS Gold Medal and delivered the second Gold Medal Lecture. Both their presentations highlighted the important role and influence of WAS in their careers. Learn more about the Congress here WAS ENDORSEMENT ESCRH Position Paper on Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights WAS has endorsed the position paper on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights developed by the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESCRH), presented at the 18th European Congress of Contraception in Belgrade in May 2026. The paper articulates evidence-based, rights-centered positions across ten critical areas, including contraception, abortion, comprehensive sexuality education, gender-based violence and FGM, marginalized populations, and the fight against misinformation, drawing on landmark frameworks including the Porto Proclamation on Sexual Health, Rights and Justice (2025). In welcoming the initiative, WAS President Faysal El Kak noted that at a moment of increasing global challenges and regression in SRHR, strong collaboration and unified advocacy among scientific societies are more important than ever. Learn more on the ESCRH website EDITOR'S CHOICE: IJSH OPEN ACCESS Perceptions and Acceptability of Doxycycline-Based STI Prophylaxis Demant, D., Baker, P. R. A., Mullens, A. B., McMillan, F., Manton, J., & Carroll, J.-A. (2025). Perceptions and Acceptability of Doxycycline-Based STI Prophylaxis: Insights from Consumers and Healthcare Providers in Queensland. International Journal of Sexual Health, 37(4), 644–661. As bacterial STI rates continue to rise globally, new prevention tools are entering the conversation, and this open-access study from Queensland, Australia examines how both consumers and healthcare providers are responding to one of the most discussed: doxycycline-based prophylaxis (Doxy-PrEP). Drawing on two cross-sectional online surveys conducted in 2024, the study gathered perspectives from 250 people at higher risk of STIs, including gay and bisexual men, sex workers, young adults, Indigenous Australians, and culturally diverse communities, alongside 37 healthcare providers with prescribing rights. Key findings include a strong link between prior HIV PrEP use and openness to Doxy-PrEP, with those already engaged in biomedical prevention significantly more likely to view it as appropriate. Older participants showed greater acceptance; younger participants were more cautious. Among providers, awareness and support for Doxy-PEP (post-exposure) was high, while support for Doxy-PrEP (ongoing prophylaxis) was more conditional, with antibiotic resistance the most frequently cited concern across both groups. The study points to the need for clear clinical guidelines, equitable access, and professional development to support responsible implementation, and highlights the social, behavioral, and structural factors that will shape whether these tools are taken up responsibly in practice. Read the full open-access article here Thank you for the work you do. Warm regards, World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) Not on our mailing list yet? Sign up here! Click here to visit the WAS website Support the Mission of WAS We invite you to support the ongoing work of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS). Your contributions help us continue our mission of promoting Sexual Health, Rights, and Justice globally. Consider becoming a supporting member or making a financial contribution today. Donations are tax-deductible in the USA. Donate Here Copyright © 2026 World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), All rights reserved. You are receiving this newsletter because you have previously expressed interest in our content by opting in on our website or through participation in one of our online events, such as our monthly webinars. We're committed to keeping you informed with the latest updates and insights. Our mailing address is: World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) 1300 South 2nd Street Suite 180 West Bank Office Building Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.