Using the Index of Sexual Life (ISL) questionnaire specifically designed to measure the impact of erectile dysfunction (ED) on female partners' sexuality, we demonstrated that ED has a negative impact on the sexual life of female partners, specifically on their sexual satisfaction and sexual drive. Further analyses showed lower sexual satisfaction and sexual drive for women reporting a disturbance or change in their own sexual lives than for women who did not. Older women had lower scores compared to younger women, independent of whether their partner had ED or not. The ISL will be useful in treatment decisions when assessing the couple's satisfaction with treatment for ED.

Effective treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) are available, however, reestablishing erectile function does not necessarily reestablish a satisfying sexual relationship. To assess broader influences on treatment discontinuation than pure efficacy, we developed and psychometrically validated the Index of Sexual Life (ISL) to measure the impact of ED on female partners' sexuality. This 11-item instrument measures sexual life satisfaction, sexual drive and general life satisfaction. Good construct validity, criterion validity, and reproducibility were demonstrated. Female partners of men with ED report significantly lower levels of sexual satisfaction and sexual drive than those without ED. The ISL is successfully validated.

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