CLINICAL TOOLS
The IIEF-5 questionnaire. The clinical score for erectile function.
Short answer: the IIEF-5, also called the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), is a five-question survey doctors use to screen for erectile dysfunction. Each question is scored 1 to 5, for a total of 5 to 25. A score of 22 to 25 means no ED, 17 to 21 mild, 12 to 16 mild to moderate, 8 to 11 moderate, and 5 to 7 severe. It covers the past six months.
Where it comes from
The IIEF-5 is a short version of the 15-item International Index of Erectile Function, published in 1999. It is one of the most validated tools in sexual medicine and is used in clinics and drug trials worldwide.
The five questions
They ask about your confidence in getting and keeping an erection, how often erections were firm enough for penetration, how often you kept them after penetration, how hard it was to keep them until completion, and how satisfying intercourse was.
Reading your score
22 to 25: no ED. 17 to 21: mild. 12 to 16: mild to moderate. 8 to 11: moderate. 5 to 7: severe. A drop of 4 or more points over time is considered clinically meaningful.
Its limits
It assumes recent intercourse, so men who are not sexually active can score low without having ED. It captures six months in one snapshot and says nothing about causes such as sleep, stress or desire.
Using it well
Take it as a baseline, repeat it after lifestyle changes or treatment, and bring it to your doctor. Pairing it with daily tracking shows what moves the score.
WHAT YOU GET
Built for signal, not noise.
5 questions
Scored 1 to 5 each, total 5 to 25.
Validated
Used in clinics and drug trials.
Snapshot
Covers the past six months only.
READ NEXT
Keep going.
QUESTIONS
What people ask before signing up.
What is a normal IIEF-5 score?
22 to 25 indicates no erectile dysfunction.
Is IIEF-5 the same as SHIM?
Yes. SHIM is another name for the IIEF-5.
Can I take the IIEF-5 myself?
Yes, it is self-administered, but discuss a low score with a doctor.
How is IIEF-5 different from the erection hardness scale?
The IIEF-5 covers function and satisfaction over six months. The EHS grades rigidity on a single occasion.
EARLY ACCESS
Go beyond a single score.
Take Owain's free assessment, then track how your function changes over time. Free on iPhone.
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