EVAL
Book a demo
Book a demo

Sexual Health Inventory For Men (SHIM) or IIEF-5

5-item quiz to identify erectile dysfunction and severity. AKA the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5)

Provided by SMSNA
Play
Instructions

Please answer the following 5 questions based on your experiences over the last six months.

0%

Purpose and Primary Use:

The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), also known as the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), is a validated, 5-item questionnaire designed for clinicians to assess the presence and severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It is intended to be a simple and effective diagnostic tool for use in clinical settings. Accurate diagnosis of ED is crucial as effective treatments are available, and ED can often be an indicator of underlying systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or neurological disorders. The SHIM is meant to complement, not replace, a comprehensive physical examination and patient history in the evaluation of ED. It can help reduce the number of incorrectly diagnosed or underdiagnosed cases of ED.

 

Sources, References, and Literature:

The SHIM questionnaire is an abridged and slightly modified version of the original 15-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Its development and validation as a diagnostic tool for erectile dysfunction are detailed in the following publication:

  • Rosen RC, Cappelleri JC, Smith MD, Lipsky J, Peña BM. Development of an abridged, 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) as a diagnostic tool for erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 1999;11(6):319-326. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3900472.

 

The SHIM focuses on key aspects of erectile function, including confidence, erection hardness, ability to maintain erection, and satisfaction with intercourse.

 

Clinical Workflow and Parameters:

The clinical workflow involves the patient completing the 5-item questionnaire. Each question addresses experiences over the last six months and offers five possible responses, scored from 1 to 5. The questions cover:

  1. Confidence in achieving and keeping an erection.
  2. Frequency of erections hard enough for penetration with sexual stimulation.
  3. Frequency of maintaining an erection after penetration.
  4. Difficulty in maintaining an erection to completion of intercourse.
  5. Frequency of satisfactory sexual attempts.

 

The total SHIM score is the sum of the scores from these five questions, ranging from 5 to 25. The severity of ED is then classified based on the total score as follows:

  • 22 - 25: No significant erectile dysfunction
  • 17 - 21: Mild erectile dysfunction
  • 12 - 16: Mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction
  • 8 - 11: Moderate erectile dysfunction
  • 5 - 7: Severe erectile dysfunction

 

A score of 21 or less is generally considered indicative of ED that should be addressed.

 

Related Decision Support Tools:

The SHIM is derived from the more comprehensive International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), a 15-item questionnaire that assesses multiple domains of male sexual function, including erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction. While the SHIM provides a quick assessment of ED, the full IIEF may be used for a more detailed evaluation, particularly in research settings or complex clinical cases.

All questions & possible results

Sexual Health Inventory For Men (SHIM)Title not visible
How do you rate your confidence that you could keep an erection?

Select one option:

  • Very low
  • Low
  • Moderate
  • High
  • Very high
When you had erections with sexual stimulation, how often were your erections hard enough for penetration (entering your partner)?

Select one option:

  • Almost never or never
  • A few times (much less than half the time)
  • Sometimes (about half the time)
  • Most times (more than half the time)
  • Almost always or always
During sex, how often were you able to maintain your erection after you had penetrated (entered) your partner?

Select one option:

  • Almost never or never
  • A few times (much less than half the time)
  • Sometimes (about half the time)
  • Most times (more than half the time)
  • Almost always or always
During sex, how difficult was it to maintain your erection to completion of intercourse?

Select one option:

  • Extremely difficult
  • Very difficult
  • Difficult
  • Slightly difficult
  • Not difficult
When you attempted sex, how often was it satisfactory for you?

Select one option:

  • Almost never or never
  • A few times (much less than half the time)
  • Sometimes (about half the time)
  • Most times (more than half the time)
  • Almost always or always
Possible results
No significant erectile dysfunction (Score 22-25)

A score between 22 and 25 indicates no significant erectile dysfunction. 

Mild erectile dysfunction (Score 17-21)

A score between 17 and 21 indicates mild erectile dysfunction. 

Mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction (Score 12-16)

A score between 12 and 16 indicates mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction. 

Moderate erectile dysfunction (Score 8-11)

A score between 8 and 11 indicates moderate erectile dysfunction. 

Severe erectile dysfunction (Score 5-7)

A score between 5 and 7 indicates severe erectile dysfunction. 

Citation

IIEF © 2007 IQVIA Inc.

 

Rosen RC, Cappelleri JC, Smith MD, Lipsky J, Peña BM. Development of an abridged, 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) as a diagnostic tool for erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 1999;11(6):319-326. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3900472.

Literature

Related evaluations

Also from SMSNA

Brief Sexual Function Inventory (BSFI)

Assessment of male sexual function and any disturbance due to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

SMSNA

International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)

Assesses ED and related male sexual functions: erectile, orgasmic, desire, intercourse/overall satisfaction using IIEF.

SMSNA

International Index of Erectile Function-6 (IIEF-6)

6-item quiz to identify erectile dysfunction and severity over the past 4 weeks.

SMSNA

International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS)

Used to quantify benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) & to monitor treatment success.

SMSNA

Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (MAT)

AKA the Short Marital Adjustment Test (SMAT) used to assess marital satisfaction and adjustment within married couples.

SMSNA

Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ)

Evaluates symptoms & psychological effects in patients with PD who have had vaginal intercourse within the last 3 months

SMSNA

Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT)

A 5-question tool to help identify men who may have a problem with premature ejaculation (PE) during sexual activity.

SMSNA

Premature Ejaculation Profile (PEP)

A 4-item patient self-reported questionnaire to assess the impact and severity of premature ejaculation (PE).

SMSNA
Browse all evaluations