Sexual health medicine
Sexual health medicine is concerned with sexual relations, including freedom from sexually transmissible infections (STIs), unplanned pregnancy, coercion and physical and psychological sexual discomfort. Its practice encompasses a wide range of factors that contribute to STIs, sexual assault, sexual dysfunction and fertility.
It also promotes sexual health of the community through education, advocacy, screening and diagnostic testing. It has a clinical perspective and a public health approach. It includes the treatment of individuals and the contact tracing and treatment of their sexual partners.
Vocational training in sexual health medicine is undertaken through the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine (ACSHM) of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). Once ACSHM training is completed, the doctor is awarded the Fellowship of the ACSHM (FACSHM).
Am I able to apply to work as a recognised specialist in New Zealand?
To apply for vocational registration in sexual health medicine, you would need to hold:
- the FACSHM qualification; or
- an international postgraduate medical qualification in paediatrics, where your combination of qualifications, training and experience is assessed against the standard of the FACSHM.
What standard will I be compared against?
To obtain the FACSHM, the trainee completes at least 6 years of training:
- 3 years of basic internal physician training and a pass in the FRACP examination; OR
- specialist training and relevant Australasian Fellowship awarded in adult internal medicine, paediatrics and child health, dermatology, obstetrics and gynaecology, general practice, pathology, psychiatry, public health medicine or urology
- 3 years of advanced training in sexual health medicine (trainees may apply to have up to 12 months of prior learning recognised in order to shorten their training programme)
- supervised experience in specialised clinical practice, covering reproductive health, psychosexual counselling, sexual abuse medicine, HIV/AIDs, colposcopy and genital dermatology, required during training
- detailed patient management of STIs, including HIV, required during training
- completion of core training in STI/HIV medicine and microbiology required before entry into final year of training
- a pass in the FACSHM Part I written examination required before entry into final year of training.
- a pass in the FACSHM Part II oral examination required in final year of training
- FACSHP awarded on satisfactory completion of examination and training requirements
- participation required in the ACSHM continuing medical education programme
I want to make a vocational registration application
If you wish to make a vocational registration application, please refer to the Vocational Registration Homepage and select the Option appropriate for you.
Am I able to apply for other types of registration?
You may be able to apply for more than one type of registration. To find out which is the best fit for you, please use our self assessment tool