Scoring and Interpretation of the FSFI: What can be Learned From 20 Years of use?

Abstract

Introduction Over the past 20 years, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) has been considered the gold standard for the measurement of sexual function in women, with over 1,000 published manuscripts citing the article. Despite the measure’s widespread usage and excellent psychometric properties, there has been some confusion over how to best implement and score the measure and interpret corresponding findings. Aim The aim of the current article is to provide guidance, drawing from 20 years of use, on how to best implement the FSFI in research settings and interpret results based on the validation studies that have been conducted to date. Methods The overview of scoring and interpretation procedures found in this article is drawn from a review of the published literature on the psychometric properties of the FSFI. Main Outcome Measure The measure of interest for the present review is the FSFI. Results This review article provides information about implementing, scoring, and interpreting the full-scale FSFI. Domain-level scoring and interpretation procedures are also discussed across the 5 domains of the FSFI: arousal, satisfaction, desire, pain, and lubrication. Additionally, guidance is provided for evaluating translated versions of the FSFI and using the measure to examine sexual function in culturally diverse populations. Clinical Implications Guidance on appropriately scoring and interpretating the FSFI has the potential to strengthen our empirical understanding of sexual function, and consequently, to guide theory-driven treatment development and clinical practice. Strength & Limitations The present review provides applied guidance for the appropriate use of the FSFI specifically, but does not cover other common measures of sexual function or adaptations of the original measure. Conclusion It is our hope that the guidance found in this review will ultimately lead to more rigorous and appropriate usage of the FSFI in research settings.

The Impact of COVID−19 on Female Sexual Health

“…Hence, the answers referred to the four weeks of February. Lockdown in Poland began on March 13 so that the second questionnaire was conducted in second half of April and referred to the time of social quarantine [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Sexual function and dysfunction among women with anorexia nervosa: A systematic scoping review

“…The FSFI requires respondents to have been sexually active in the last 4 weeks prior to examination, thus producing a risk of selection bias and reducing the generalizability to all women with AN. Furthermore, there is no evaluation of sexual distress included in the FSFI, which is an important factor relevant to the assessment of FSD (Meston, Freihart, Handy, Kilimnik, & Rosen, 2020). Furthermore, we are not aware of any studies that have investigated the psychometric properties of different psychosexual outcome measures specifically in individuals with EDs or looked at effects of FSD in women with AN on quality of life.…”

Responsiveness of two sexual function questionnaires: PISQ‐IR and FSFI in women with pelvic floor disorders

“…The FSFI is a 19‐item, self‐report measure of female sexual function which provides scores on the overall levels of sexual function as well as the primary components of sexual function, including sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, pain, and satisfaction, in women 18 . Its discriminant validity has been confirmed for a wide range of sexual dysfunctions.…”