Nelson Vergel
Founder, ExcelMale.com
The 15-question International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Questionnaire is a validated, multi-dimensional, self-administered investigation that has been found useful in the clinical assessment of erectile dysfunction and treatment outcomes in clinical trials. A score of 0-5 is awarded to each of the 15 questions that examine the 4 main domains of male sexual function: erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire and intercourse satisfaction.
Clinical Application
IIEF assessment is limited by the superficial assessment of psychosexual background and the very limited assessment of partner relationship, both important factors in the presentation of male sexual dysfunction. Analysis of the questionnaire should, therefore, be viewed as an adjunct to, rather than a substitute for, a detailed sexual history and examination. The following guide-lines may be applied:
1. Patients with low IEEF scores (<14 out of 30) in Domain A (Erectile Function) may be considered for a trial course of therapy with erectile function improvement drugs (PED5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis, Levitra) and a testosterone blood test.
2. Patients demonstrating primary orgasmic or ejaculatory dysfunction (Domain B) should be referred for specialist investigation (urologist).
3. Patients with reduced sexual desire (Domain C) require testing of blood levels of testosterone and prolactin.
4. Psychosexual counselling should be considered if low scores are recorded in Domains D
and E but there is only a moderately lowered score (14 to 25) in Domain A.
Reference
1. Rosen R, Riley A, Wagner G, et al. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF): A multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction. Urology, 1997, 49: 822-830.
Questionnaire:
How often were you able to get an erection during sexual activity?
0 No sexual activity
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
When you had erections with sexual stimulation, how often were your erections hard enough for penetration?
0 No sexual activity
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
When you attempted intercourse, how often were you able to penetrate (enter) your partner?
0 Did not attempt intercourse
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
During sexual intercourse, how often were you able to maintain your erection after you had penetrated (entered) your partner?
0 Did not attempt intercourse
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
Q5
During sexual intercourse, how difficult was it to maintain your erection to completion of intercourse?
0 Did not attempt intercourse
1 Extremely difficult
2 Very difficult
3 Difficult
4 Slightly difficult
5 Not difficult
Q6
How many times have you attempted sexual intercourse?
0 No attempts
1 One to two attempts
2 Three to four attempts
3 Five to six attempts
4 Seven to ten attempts
5 Eleven or more attempts
Q7
When you attempted sexual intercourse, how often was it satisfactory for you?
0 Did not attempt intercourse
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
Q8
How much have you enjoyed sexual intercourse?
0 No intercourse
1 No enjoyment at all
2 Not very enjoyable
3 Fairly enjoyable
4 Highly enjoyable
5 Very highly enjoyable
Q9
When you had sexual stimulation or intercourse, how often did you ejaculate?
0 No sexual stimulation or intercourse
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
Q10
When you had sexual stimulation o r intercourse, how often did you have the feeling of orgasm or climax?
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
Q11
How often have you felt sexual desire?
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
Q12
How would you rate your level of sexual desire?
1 Very low or none at all
2 Low
3 Moderate
4 High
5 Very high
Q13
How satisfied have you been with your o ve ral se x life ?
1 Very dissatisfied
2 Moderately dissatisfied
3 Equally satisfied & dissatisfied
4 Moderately satisfied
5 Very satisfied
Q14
How satisfied have you been with your sexual relationship with your partner?
1 Very dissatisfied
2 Moderately dissatisfied
3 Equally satisfied & dissatisfied
4 Moderately satisfied
5 Very satisfied
Q15
How do you rate your confidence that you could get and keep an erection?
1 Very low
2 Low
3 Moderate
4 High
5 Very high
Add your answers' scores for a total score.
Clinical Application
IIEF assessment is limited by the superficial assessment of psychosexual background and the very limited assessment of partner relationship, both important factors in the presentation of male sexual dysfunction. Analysis of the questionnaire should, therefore, be viewed as an adjunct to, rather than a substitute for, a detailed sexual history and examination. The following guide-lines may be applied:
1. Patients with low IEEF scores (<14 out of 30) in Domain A (Erectile Function) may be considered for a trial course of therapy with erectile function improvement drugs (PED5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis, Levitra) and a testosterone blood test.
2. Patients demonstrating primary orgasmic or ejaculatory dysfunction (Domain B) should be referred for specialist investigation (urologist).
3. Patients with reduced sexual desire (Domain C) require testing of blood levels of testosterone and prolactin.
4. Psychosexual counselling should be considered if low scores are recorded in Domains D
and E but there is only a moderately lowered score (14 to 25) in Domain A.
Reference
1. Rosen R, Riley A, Wagner G, et al. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF): A multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction. Urology, 1997, 49: 822-830.
Questionnaire:
[TD="align: left"] | [/TD] |
How often were you able to get an erection during sexual activity?
0 No sexual activity
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
[TD="align: left"] | [/TD] |
When you had erections with sexual stimulation, how often were your erections hard enough for penetration?
0 No sexual activity
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
[TD="align: left"] | [/TD] |
When you attempted intercourse, how often were you able to penetrate (enter) your partner?
0 Did not attempt intercourse
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
[TD="align: left"] | [/TD] |
During sexual intercourse, how often were you able to maintain your erection after you had penetrated (entered) your partner?
0 Did not attempt intercourse
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
Q5
During sexual intercourse, how difficult was it to maintain your erection to completion of intercourse?
0 Did not attempt intercourse
1 Extremely difficult
2 Very difficult
3 Difficult
4 Slightly difficult
5 Not difficult
Q6
How many times have you attempted sexual intercourse?
0 No attempts
1 One to two attempts
2 Three to four attempts
3 Five to six attempts
4 Seven to ten attempts
5 Eleven or more attempts
Q7
When you attempted sexual intercourse, how often was it satisfactory for you?
0 Did not attempt intercourse
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
Q8
How much have you enjoyed sexual intercourse?
0 No intercourse
1 No enjoyment at all
2 Not very enjoyable
3 Fairly enjoyable
4 Highly enjoyable
5 Very highly enjoyable
Q9
When you had sexual stimulation or intercourse, how often did you ejaculate?
0 No sexual stimulation or intercourse
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
Q10
When you had sexual stimulation o r intercourse, how often did you have the feeling of orgasm or climax?
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
Q11
How often have you felt sexual desire?
1 Almost never or never
2 A few times (less than half the time)
3 Sometimes (about half the time)
4 Most times (more than half the time)
5 Almost always or always
Q12
How would you rate your level of sexual desire?
1 Very low or none at all
2 Low
3 Moderate
4 High
5 Very high
Q13
How satisfied have you been with your o ve ral se x life ?
1 Very dissatisfied
2 Moderately dissatisfied
3 Equally satisfied & dissatisfied
4 Moderately satisfied
5 Very satisfied
Q14
How satisfied have you been with your sexual relationship with your partner?
1 Very dissatisfied
2 Moderately dissatisfied
3 Equally satisfied & dissatisfied
4 Moderately satisfied
5 Very satisfied
Q15
How do you rate your confidence that you could get and keep an erection?
1 Very low
2 Low
3 Moderate
4 High
5 Very high
Add your answers' scores for a total score.
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