SPECIALTY CENTERS

In order to provide state-of-the-art care for our patients, San Diego Sexual Medicine has been developed as a multi-disciplinary facility, providing an integrated approach to healthcare, with specialty centers in the following areas:

DYSPAREUNIA (SEXUAL PAIN)

More than 20 million American women suffer from dyspareunia. Treatments are in the areas of sex therapy, surgery, pelvic floor physical therapy and pain management. The evidence shows that all therapies help to a certain degree, but a significant number of women cannot find relief from their pain. At San Diego Sexual Medicine, women with dyspareunia will have multi-disciplinary treatment with sex therapy, physical therapy, surgery and pain management all on the Alvarado Hospital campus. Our healthcare providers will work with you until you are pain free.


ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION/METABOLIC SYNDROME

Endothelial dysfunction, injury or inflammation of the lining of the blood vessels or atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), has been shown to be linked to erectile dysfunction (ED). The severity of the endothelial dysfunction (mild, moderate, severe) correlates with the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) (mild, moderate, severe), with the barometer of a man’s endothelial health assessed by his erectile health. Thus sexual health is relevant to the health of the aging male.

Within 10 years of developing erectile dysfunction (ED) about 10% of men will have a serious cardiovascular event and/or early death. It has been shown that treating the metabolic syndrome improves endothelial function and erectile function, thus promoting heart health. Men presenting to San Diego Sexual Medicine with erectile dysfunction (ED) will therefore be assessed for endothelial health in a multi-disciplinary manner, engaging bariatrics, cardiology, endocrinology, exercise physiology, family medicine, internal medicine, neurology and sleep medicine.


RECONSTRUCTIVE/REVASCULARIZATION SURGERY

Surgical reconstruction may be considered when the sexual health problem is not successfully managed by less invasive treatments. In that case it is the only option for renewed sexual function for some men and women.

For men with erectile dysfunction (ED), San Diego Sexual Medicine offers penile bypass surgery (microvascular penile revascularlization surgery, anastosmis of the inferior epigastric artery to the dorsal penile artery) for arterial blockages from penile trauma, bicycle falls, kicks in the crotch and pelvic fractures. Dr. Goldstein has performed more than 1000 of these procedures, more than any other practicing physician.

Reconstruction procedures are available for men with Peyronie’s Disease with or without pain, notching, deformation or shortening of the penis, and congenital curvature of the penis. In addition, placement of penile implants will be performed, including in difficult cases where the penis is scarred from previous implants, infections, malfunction of devices, priapism, diabetes and connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma.

Reconstruction procedures include vestibulectomy for women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS), with surgery ranging from total vestibulectomy to excision of selected inflamed vestibular glands, labial reduction for redundant labia associated with pain, marsupialization of Bartholin’s cysts, dorsal slit procedure for balanitis of the clitoris, excision of urethral prolapse and reconstruction of clitoris and labia after ritual circumcision.


SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION AFTER CANCER TREATMENT

Some cancers may now be considered a chronic disease with all the quality of life issues involved in living a normal life after treatment. Cancer surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy can all affect sexual function. San Diego Sexual Medicine will offer guidance to those diagnosed with cancer who are interested in maintaining sexual function and want information concerning the adverse affects of cancer therapies on sexual function. Sexual health preservation programs are also available to men and women before undergoing cancer treatment.

For men who have been treated for prostate cancer or testicular cancer, women who have been treated for breast cancer, cervical cancer or uterine cancer, and men and women who have been treated for bladder cancer, colon cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia or other blood cancers, or other chronic diseases such as AIDS and are seeking restoration of sexual function, San Diego Sexual Medicine offers a variety of treatments. Our healthcare providers work in conjunction with your oncologist or other specialists to maximize your sexual health.