BACKGROUND: Available measurements of women's sexual function do not account for different sexual orientations; rather, instruments have been developed using heterosexual samples. The Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) is a widely used instrument, applicable for sexually active or inactive women. We apply the FSFI to a sample of women who have or prefer women as sexual partners, defined as sexual minority women, and who vary with respect to their sexual activity. METHODS: A modified version of the FSFI was used in a sample of sexual minority women. Statistical analyses focused on examining associations between FSFI responses of no sexual activity and women's characteristics. RESULTS: Partner status and sexual frequency was significantly associated with reporting no sexual activity on the FSFI. A revised scoring of the FSFI allows for the use of this instrument among women who vary on sexual frequency and partner status, without biasing their scores towards sexual dysfunction. The desire subscale is independent of sexual frequency, partner status, and sexual orientation. CONCLUSIONS: The modified wording of the FSFI and its revised scoring allow for the use of this instrument among sexual minority women. A separate reporting of the desire subscale will generate reliable and valid assessments of sexual minority women's sexual functioning.
BACKGROUND: Available measurements of women's sexual function do not account for different sexual orientations; rather, instruments have been developed using heterosexual samples. The Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) is a widely used instrument, applicable for sexually active or inactive women. We apply the FSFI to a sample of women who have or prefer women as sexual partners, defined as sexual minority women, and who vary with respect to their sexual activity. METHODS: A modified version of the FSFI was used in a sample of sexual minority women. Statistical analyses focused on examining associations between FSFI responses of no sexual activity and women's characteristics. RESULTS: Partner status and sexual frequency was significantly associated with reporting no sexual activity on the FSFI. A revised scoring of the FSFI allows for the use of this instrument among women who vary on sexual frequency and partner status, without biasing their scores towards sexual dysfunction. The desire subscale is independent of sexual frequency, partner status, and sexual orientation. CONCLUSIONS: The modified wording of the FSFI and its revised scoring allow for the use of this instrument among sexual minority women. A separate reporting of the desire subscale will generate reliable and valid assessments of sexual minority women's sexual functioning.
Authors: Ilana B Addis; Stephen K Van Den Eeden; Christina L Wassel-Fyr; Eric Vittinghoff; Jeanette S Brown; David H Thom Journal: Obstet Gynecol Date: 2006-04 Impact factor: 7.661
Authors: Andrea M Isidori; Carlotta Pozza; Katherine Esposito; Dario Giugliano; Susanna Morano; Linda Vignozzi; Giovanni Corona; Andrea Lenzi; Emmanuele A Jannini Journal: J Sex Med Date: 2009-12-01 Impact factor: 3.802
Authors: Raymond C Rosen; Carol L Link; Michael P O'Leary; Francois Giuliano; Lalitha P Aiyer; Patrick Mollon Journal: BJU Int Date: 2009-04 Impact factor: 5.588
Authors: Christiana von Hippel; Avanti Adhia; Shoshana Rosenberg; S Bryn Austin; Ann Partridge; Rulla Tamimi Journal: Womens Health Issues Date: 2019-05-23
Authors: Mia D Austria; Kathleen Lynch; Tiffany Le; Chasity Burrows Walters; Thomas M Atkinson; Andrew J Vickers; Sigrid V Carlsson Journal: J Sex Med Date: 2021-10-31 Impact factor: 3.802
Authors: Jessica N Sanders; Jacob Kean; Chong Zhang; Angela P Presson; Bethany G Everett; David K Turok; Jenny A Higgins Journal: J Sex Med Date: 2022-01-14 Impact factor: 3.937
Authors: Hedi L Claahsen-van der Grinten; Phyllis W Speiser; S Faisal Ahmed; Wiebke Arlt; Richard J Auchus; Henrik Falhammar; Christa E Flück; Leonardo Guasti; Angela Huebner; Barbara B M Kortmann; Nils Krone; Deborah P Merke; Walter L Miller; Anna Nordenström; Nicole Reisch; David E Sandberg; Nike M M L Stikkelbroeck; Philippe Touraine; Agustini Utari; Stefan A Wudy; Perrin C White Journal: Endocr Rev Date: 2022-01-12 Impact factor: 19.871
Authors: Susan D Reed; Janet S Carpenter; Joseph Larson; Caroline M Mitchell; Jan Shifren; Julia Heiman; Nancy Fugate Woods; Stacy Tessler Lindau; Andrea Z LaCroix; Katherine A Guthrie Journal: Menopause Date: 2022-01-31 Impact factor: 3.310