Brief Description
The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is a self-report questionnaire designed to assess sexual function in females. It evaluates six domains of sexual function: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. It is appropriate for use with adult females across a variety of conditions, including postmenopausal women, those experiencing sexual health concerns, or individuals undergoing treatment that may impact sexual function. An example question from the FSFI is, "Over the past four weeks, how often did you feel sexual desire or interest?" Responses are rated on a scale from 1 to 5, capturing the frequency or intensity of each aspect of sexual functioning. The FSFI is widely used in both clinical and research settings to identify potential sexual dysfunctions or to track sexual health over time.
Assessment Administration Type
Self-Report
Number of questions
19
Age Range for Administration
18+
Recommended Frequency of Administration
Monthly
Summary of Scoring and Interpretations
Each domain of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) can receive a maximum score of 6.0, which is calculated by summing the responses for each item in the domain and multiplying by a correction factor.
The total sexual function score is the sum of all domain scores, ranging from 2.0 (indicating not sexually active and no desire) to 36.0. A domain score of 0.0 means there was no sexual activity during the past month. Higher scores, both for individual domains and the total score, reflect better sexual functioning. Most questions are scored from 0 to 5 except for a few specific questions that are rated from 1 to 5. These scores are scaled to achieve a maximum total score of 36. A total score of 26 or below is commonly used as a clinical cutoff for diagnosing sexual dysfunction. A respondent with a total score of 26 or lower may be at risk for sexual dysfunction and should undergo further evaluation. Higher pain scores may suggest a sexual pain disorder, while lower lubrication scores could indicate a potential issue with sexual arousal.
The individual domain scores and the overall FSFI score can be calculated using the formula provided in the table below.
Domain | Questions | Score Range | Factor | Minimum Score | Maximum Score |
Desire | 1, 2 | 1-5 | .6 | 1.2 | 6.0 |
Arousal | 3, 4, 5, 6 | 0-5 | .3 | 0 | 6.0 |
Lubrication | 7, 8, 9, 10 | 0-5 | .3 | 0 | 6.0 |
Orgasm | 11, 12, 13 | 0-5 | .4 | 0 | 6.0 |
Satisfaction | 14, 15, 16 | 0 (or 1) -5 | .4 | .8 | 6.0 |
Pain | 17, 18, 19 | 0-5 | .4 | 0 | 6.0 |
Full Scale Score Range | -- | -- | -- | 2.0 | 36.0 |
Blueprint Adjustments
The “Total score” produced by Blueprint should not be used for clinical interpretation. Blueprint’s current capability does not allow for scores to be multiplied by factors, As such, the domain scores produced by Blueprint are the summed domain score and must be multiplied by the factor (listed above) by the clinician. Next, the clinician can take the domain scores multiplied by their respective factors and sum them to produce the full scale score.
Clinical Considerations
Estimated time for completion: 4-8 minutes
The measure is used primarily with adults. It is reasonable to assume it would be appropriate for use with adolescents when clinically indicated.
The FSFI is meant to enhance clinical decision-making. It should not serve as the sole basis for making a diagnosis.
Citation
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