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Proceedings from the 20 th World Congress of Sexual Health 9233SYPOSIUM: RELIGION AND SEXUAL HEALTHP. WeerakoonGraduate Program in Sexual Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW,AustraliaSyposium:(i) Some Biblical Principles for Sexuality(ii) Sexuality and Hinduism(iii) Sexual Health, Sexual Ethics and IslamAims: To explore how sexual health and sexual ethics are representedin major world religions and how these are relevant to the 21st century.A panel of experts will present an overview of sexuality, sexual heathand sexual ethics from the perspective of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduismand Islam. Each presenter will then be allowed short ‘speech bytes’on hot topics in sexual health including issues such as abortion, samesex marriage/adoption, sex education, gender roles, prostitution/sextrade, pornography.34THE MEDIA: SEXUAL HEALTH SAINTOR SINNERS. Quilliam 1 , P. Hall 2 , M. Barker 3 , R. Findlay 4 , S. Nasserzadeh 5 ,Y. Ohlrichs 61 Self-employed, Cambridge, 2 Relate, London, 3 Social Sciences, OpenUniversity, Milton Keynes, 4 Family Planning Association, London, UK,5 Pfizer, New York, NY, USA, 6 Rutgers Nisso Group, Utrecht, TheNetherlandsOver the past decade in particular, the public media—radio, television,print, the internet as well as social networking such as Twitter andFacebook—has been blamed for many of the problems in our sexualisedsociety. Banner headlines, celebrity shock stories, pornographyof all kinds—none of these are helpful to the cause of sexual health,sex education and a mature view of sexuality.But is there another side to the story? For the media also communicatepositive, helpful sexual messages, provides accurate sex education,and offers confidential routes by which those with sexual problemscan be supported.This symposium presents a wide range of evidence and viewpointsfrom all sides of the media and sexology communities worldwide, togive delegates a comprehensive appreciation of the dangers but alsothe benefits of the media. This will not be a formal debate, but around table of current practice that informs the audience, allows themthe opportunity to interact, question and challenge—and alsoresources them to work with the media to present sexual issueseffectively.35ORGASMS ACROSS CULTURESS. NasserzadehPrivate Practice, New York, NY, USACultural differences in understandings of orgasm.Different cultures with their particular views about gender rolewithin a relationship might have diverse views on Orgasm, how itshould feel, what it represents and who is entitled to it. This brief talkwill be an overview of the subject with a couple of case reports to shedsome light on the topic.Take home messages:• Orgasm could send different messages men and women in thecontext of a particular culture• Presenting problems about orgasm could be worded differently bydifferent clients based on their cultural values and linguistic abilities(both in English and in their native language)• The concept of mutual pleasure is a core concept to be discussedwhen discussing orgasmic abilities36MULTIPLE MEANINGS OF ORGASMSM. BarkerPsychology in Social Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UKDiagnoses and therapy with people who are struggling with orgasmstends to assume that orgasms are a positive experience which adultsshould be having during sex. This brief presentation considers themultiple possible meanings of orgasm for people, both between differentpeople and within the same person at different times. Drawing onPeggy Kleinplatz’ ideas that bodies which struggle to have certainkinds of sex may carry a message, it highlights the importance ofunderstanding what orgasms—and their lack—mean to clients beforeworking with them to make any changes.Take home messages:• Orgasms mean different things to different people at different times• Understanding the individual meaning of orgasm is vital to therapy• Bodies that do not orgasm in expected ways may be carrying a message• Opening up the possibilities for orgasmic, and non-orgasmic, experiencescan be valuable37BESIDES ORGASM: BROADENING THE PATHOF SEXUAL INTIMACYA. IantaffiDivision of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of MinnesotaSchool of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USAMany people who seek sex therapy see orgasm as an essential goal tobe achieved. Yet, this can often become an obstacle to interventionsthat challenge clients to broaden their definition of sex. It can alsohinder people’s search for intimacy, which often seems to be a motivatingfactor when seeking therapeutic help in relation to sexual issues.This seems to be a central issue in particular when working withindividuals and couples working within an heteronormative paradigm.Drawing on queer theory and insights from research carried out withpeople who identify as queer, polyamorous, asexual and/or BDSMpractitioners, this brief presentation will highlight how many peopleand communities have found several alternative paths to intimacybesides orgasm and how using those insights and experiences in boththerapy and research could benefit the broader community.Take home messages:• Orgasm can become a hindrance to therapeutic improvement forsome clients.• Heteronormative discourses have traditionally considered orgasm asthe privileged path to sexual intimacy.• Many people within non-mainstream communities have createdother ways in which sexual intimacy can be obtained and valued.• Recognizing broader concepts and experiences of sexual intimacy inboth clinical and research contexts can be beneficial.38WORKING WITH ORGASMSBIOPSYCHOSOCIALLYT. BarnesPrivate Practice, London, UKSexual motivation, arousal, response and satisfaction need to be understoodin a biopsychosocial context which factors in cultural and personalmeaning, not only function. Two conceptual models will bepresented which assist the clinician in assessing and understanding thekey sexual and relationship issues as experienced by the individual and/or couple.Take home messages:• Sexual difficulties and disorders may be identified and understoodin terms of a “sexual circuit” which encompasses sexual motivation,arousal and response systems.J Sex Med 2011;8(suppl 3):84–299jsm_2325.indd 925/20/2011 8:18:12 PM