Critical flaws in the female sexual function index and the international index of erectile function
Abstract
The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI; Rosen et al., 2000 ) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF; Rosen et al., 1997 ) are two of the most widely used measures of sexual dysfunction. However, they have potential measurement and psychometric flaws that have not been addressed in the literature. This article examines the measurement capabilities of these measures based on data collected from an online study in 2010. A convenience sample of 518 sexually active adults (65% female) drawn from the general community were included in the analyses. Both measures displayed critical theoretical and measurement problems for the assessment of sexual problems beyond sexual arousal, and for the sexual desire domains in particular. Based on these results, we encourage clinicians and researchers to think critically about whether the FSFI and IIEF are appropriate measures for their practice and research. In particular, these measures are inappropriate for use among individuals who are not currently sexually active, and research with a focus other than sexual arousal should consider supplementary measures of sexual function. The psychometric properties of these measures should be reassessed in clinical samples, but the theoretical issues with the measures raised in this article are relevant across clinical and research contexts.
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Such measures are therefore less suited to measure the sexual experiences of single men and men who have sex with men.
“Such measures are therefore less suited to measure the sexual experiences of single men and men who have sex with men.80, 81, 82”
From A Psychosocial Approach to Erectile Dysfunction: Position Statements from the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM) (2021) · cites this paper as [82]
The vast majority of ED case-history tools does not take diversity into account because they are mainly oriented towards heterosexual couples in stable relationship and/or to men who have experienced sexual intercourse in the last 4 weeks preceding the evaluation.
“Furthermore, the vast majority of ED case-history tools does not take diversity into account because they are mainly oriented towards heterosexual couples in stable relationship and/or to men who have experienced sexual intercourse in the last 4 weeks preceding the evaluation (eg, International Index of Erectile Function).”
From A Psychosocial Approach to Erectile Dysfunction: Position Statements from the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM) (2021) · cites this paper as [82]
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References 21 · Cited by 86
- Authors
- Forbes, M. K., Baillie, A. J., & Schniering, C. A.
- Affiliations
- National Health and Medical Research Council (AU)
- Macquarie University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Forbes, Miriam K.
- Venue
- The Journal of Sex Research
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-05-14
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 485-491
- ISSN
- 0022-4499 (ISSN-L)
- 1559-8519
- OpenAlex
- W2065003779
- Cited by
- 86
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 6.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Sex Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Keywords
- Female Sexual Function Index, International Index of Erectile Function, sexual dysfunction assessment, sexual desire, sexual arousal, psychometric properties, measurement validity, female sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Humans, Erectile Dysfunction, Male, Middle Aged, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological, Young Adult
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