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Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women

ID# Date

This index covers material that is sensitive and personal. Your responses will be kept
completelv confidential. If von are unable or do not wish lo answer anv question, vou mav leave
it blank.
Answer the Iollowing questions by choosing the most accurate response for the past
month.

1. Do you currently have a sex partner? Yes No

2. Have you been sexually active during the past monlh? Yes No

3. During the past month, how Irequently have you had sexual thoughts, Iantasies, or
erotic dreams? (Picase circle the most appropriate response.)
0) Not at all
1) Once
2) 2 or 3 times
3) Once a week
4) 2 or 3 times per weck
5) Once a day
6) More ihan once a day
4. Using the scale to the right, indicate how Irequently you have Ielt a desire to engage
in the Iollowing activities during the past month? (An answer is required for each, even
if it mav nol applv to vou.)
Kissing ........ 0) Not at all
Masturbation alone ........ 1) Once
Mutual masturbation ........ 2) 2 or 3 times
Petting and Ioreplay ........ 3) Once a week
Oral sex ........ 4) 2 or 3 times per week
Vaginal penetralion or intercourse ........ 5) Once a day
Anal sex ........ 6) More than once a day


5. Using the scale to the right, indicate how Irequently you have become aroused by the
Iollowing sexual experienccs during the past month. (An answer is required for each,
even if it mav nol applv to vou.)
Kissing ........ 0) Have not engaged in this activity
Dreams or Iantasy ......... 1) Not at all
MasiVbation alone ........ 2) Seldom, less than 25 oI the time
Mutual masturbation ........ 3) Sometimes, about 50 oI the time
Petting and Ioreplay ........ 4) Usually, about 75 oI the time
Oral sex ......... 5) Always became aroused
Vaginal penetration or intercourse ........
Anal sex ........


6. Overall, during the past month, how Irequently have you become anxious or inhibited
during sexual activity with a partner? (Picase circle the most appropriate response.)
0) I have not had a partner
1) Not at all anxious or inhibited
2) Seldom, less than 25 oI the time
3) Sometimes, about 50 oI the time
4) Usually, about 75 oI the time
5) Always became anxious or inhibited





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7. Using the scale to the right, indicate how Irequently you have engaged in the
Iollowing sexual experiences during the past month? (An answer is required for each,
even if it mav not applv to vou.)
Kissing ........ 0) Not at all
Sexual Iantasy ........ 1) Once
Masturbation alone ........ 2) 2 or 3 times
Mutual masturbation ........ 3) Once a week
Petting and Ioreplay ........ 4) 2 or 3 times per week
Oral sex ........ 5) Once a day
Vaginal penetralion or intercourse ........ 6) More than once a day
Anal sex ........
8. During the past month, who has usually initiated sexual activity? (Picase circle the most
appropriate response.)
0) I have not had a partner
1) I have not had sex with a partner during Ihe past month
2) I usually have initiated activity
3) My parlner and I have equally initiated activity
4) My partner usually has initiated activity.
9. During the past month, how havc you usually responded lo your partner's sexual
advances? (Picase circle the most appropriate response.)
0) I have not had a partner
1) Has not happcned during the past month
2) Usually reIused
3) Somelimes reIused
4) Accepled reluctantly
5) Accepted, but not necessarily with pleasure
6) Usually accepted with pleasure
7) Always accepted with pleasure
10. During the past month, have you Ielt pleasure Irom any Iorms oI sexual experience?
(Picase circle Ihe most appropriate response.)
0) I have not had a partner
1) Have had no sexual experience during the past month
2) Have not Ielt any pleasure
3) Seldom, less than 25 oI the time
4) Sometimes, about 50 oI the time
5) Usually, about 75 oI the time
6) Always Ielt pleasure


11. Using the scale to the right, indicate how oIten you have reached orgasm during the
past month with the Iollowing activities. (An answer is required for each, even if it mav
not applv lo vou.)
In dreams or Iantasy ........ 0) I have not had a partner
Kissing ......... 1) Have not engaged in this activity
Masturbation alone ........ 2) Not at all
Mutual masturbation ........ 3) Seldom, less than 25 oI the time
Petting and Ioreplay ........ 4) Sometimes, about 50 oI the time
Oral sex ........ 5) Usually about 75 oI the time
Vaginal penelration or intercourse ........ 6) Always reached orgasm
Anal sex ........


12. During the past month, has Ihe Irequcncy oI your sexual aclivity with a partner been:
(Please circle the most appropriale response.)
0) I have not had a partner
1) Less than you desired
2) As much as you desired
3) More than you desired



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13. Using the scale to the right, indicate Ihe level oI change, iI any, in the Iollowing
areas during the past monlh? (An answer is required for each, even if it mav not applv
to vou.)
Sexual interest ......... 0) Not applicable
Sexual arousal ......... 1) Much lower level
Sexual activity ......... 2) Somewhat lower level
Sexual satisIaction ......... 3) No change
Sexual anxiety ......... 4) Somewhat higher level
......... 5) Much higher level


14. During the past month, how Irequently have you expcrienced Ihe Iollowing? (An
answer is required for each, even if il mav not applv to vou)

Bleeding or irritation aIter vaginal penetration ....... 0) Not at all
or intercourse ........ 1)Seldom, less than 25 oI the time
Lack oI vaginal lubrication . ....... 2)Sometimes, about 50 oI the time
PainIul penetration or intercourse ....... 3) Usually, about 75 oI the time
DiIIiculty reaching orgasm ....... 4) Always
Vaginal tightness ......
Involuntary urination ........
Headaches aIter sexual activity ........
Vaginal inIection ........

15. Using the scale to the right, indicate Ihe Irequency with which the Iollowing Iactors
have inIluenced your level oI sexual activity during the past month. (An answer is re-
quired for each, even if it mav not applv to vou.)
My own health problems ........ 0) I have not had a partner
(Ior example, inIection, illness) ........ 1) Not at all
My partner's health problems ........ 2) Seldom, less than 25 oI the time
ConIlict in the relationship ......... 3) Sometimes, about 50 oI the time
Lack oI privacy ......... 4) Usually, about 75 oI the time
Other (picase speciIy): ......... 5) Always
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16. How satisIied are you with Ihe overall appearance oI your body? (Please circle the
most appropriale response.)
0) Very satisIied
1) Somewhat satisIied
2) Neither satisIied nor dissatisIied
3) Somewhat dissatisIied
4) Very dissatisIied

17. During the past month, how Irequently have you been able to communicate your
sexual desires or preIerences to your partner? (Please circle the most appropriale response.)
0) I have not had a partner
1) I have been unable to communicate my desires or preIerences
2) Seldom, about 25 oI the time
3) Sometimes, about 50 oI the time
4) Usually, about 75 oI the time
5) I was always able lo communicate my desires or preIerences

18. Overall, how satisIied have you been with your sexual relationship with your partner?
(Please circle the most appropriate response.)
0) I have not had a partner
1) Very salisIied
2) Somewhat satisIied
3) Neither satisIicd nor dissatisIied
4) Somewhat dissalisIied
5) Very dissatisIied


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19. Overall, how satisIied do you think your partner has bccn with your sexual relation
ship? (Please circle the most appropriate response.)
0) I have not had a partner
1) Very salisIied
2) Somewhat satisIied
3) Neither salisIied or dissatisIied
4) Somewhat dissatisIied
5) Very dissatisIied
20. Overall, how importan! a part oI your liIe is your sexual activity? (Please circle the
most appropriate response.)
0) Not at all important
1) Somewhat unimportant
2) Neither important nor unimportant
3) Somewhat important
4) Very important
21. Circle the number that corresponds to the statement that best describes your sexual
experience.
1) Entirely heterosexual
2) Largely heterosexual, but some homosexual experience
3) Largely heterosexual, but considerable homosexual experience
4) Equally heterosexual and homosexual
5) Largely homosexual, but considerable heterosexual experience

22. Circle the number that corresponds to the statement Ihat best describes your sexual desires.
1) Entirely heterosexual
2) Largely heterosexual, but some homosexual dcsire
3) Largely heterosexual, but considerable homosexual desire
4) Equally heterosexual and homosexual
5) Largely homosexual, but considerable heterosexual desire
6) Largely homosexual, but some heterosexual desire
7) Entirely homosexual