International Index of Erectile Function Scores

[Michael Scally MD]

The Impact of Age, BMI and Sex Hormone on Aging Males’ Symptoms and The International Index of Erectile Function Scores

Objective: To analyze the impact of age, BMI and sex hormone on aging males’ symptoms (AMS) and the 5-item version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) scores in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jiashan County. A total of 969 men, aged between 40 and 80 years old, were admitted. Physical examination and the sex hormones were measured, and AMS and IIEF-5 scores were assessed.

Results: The one way ANOVA analysis indicated older age groups had higher AMS total-scores, somatic and sexual sub-scores, and lower IIEF5 scores (all p < .01). Pairwise correlation (rpairwise) analyses showed the significant associations between AMS and age or sex hormone (cFT, Bio-T, SHBG, and LH) levels, and similar for IIEF5.

However, when age was adjusted, the correlation coefficients (rpartial) weakened, and correlation significance disappeared, except LH (for AMS: rpartial = 0.096, p = .009; for IIEF-5: rpartial =  −0.140, p = .001). Multiple linear regressions confirmed the influence of increased age and LH on the AMS and IIEF5 scores.

Conclusion: CFT, Bio-T and SHBG failed to yield any additional predicting information when age was adjusted. To improve the male reproductive health, future research should pay more attention on aging-related comorbidities and how to improve general wellness.

Yu X-H, Zhao J, Zhang S-C, et al. The impact of age, BMI and sex hormone on aging males’ symptoms and the international index of erectile function scores. The Aging Male. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13685538.2017.1361399

 

[william12]

It's good to see the scientists digging deeper into such complex issue.

TRT never really helped me , Erection was always good but more "mechanical" if the description is accurate. Sex drive suffers with TRT as far as my experience goes.
It's like the warm feeling when excited is blunted.
I don't know how to describe it.
I always believed fertility plays a big role in sexual arousal and enjoyment.

 

[Slab]

It's good to see the scientists digging deeper into such complex issue.

TRT never really helped me , Erection was always good but more "mechanical" if the description is accurate. Sex drive suffers with TRT as far as my experience goes.
It's like the warm feeling when excited is blunted.
I don't know how to describe it.
I always believed fertility plays a big role in sexual arousal and enjoyment.

My exact experience!

 

[Michael Scally MD]

The Masturbation Erection Index (MEI): Validation of A New Psychometric Tool Derived from The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-6) and from the Erection Hardness Score (EHS) for Measuring Erectile Function During Masturbation

OBJECTIVES: To validate a psychometric instrument, the Masturbation Erection Index (MEI) able to evaluate erectile function (EF) during masturbation. In fact, although the evaluation of EF during masturbation is pivotal in evaluating erectile dysfunction (ED), to date no specific psychometric tools have been developed to measure it both in the routine clinical practice and in the experimental setting.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Of 560 male patients attending for the first time our andrological outpatient clinic, 99 (17.7%) were affected by ED. As a control group, we enrolled 102 sexually healthy men. All subjects were requested to fill out both the abridged International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-6) and the MEI. The MEI was used together with a standardized tool, the Erection Hardness Score (EHS).

The MEI was validated in terms of content validity. Test-retest reliability was assessed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Internal consistency was evaluated by the Cronbach's alpha. The comparability between MEI and IIEF-6 in measuring EF was tested by the Bland & Altman analysis. The Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC) between the two questionnaires was also determined.

RESULTS: Internal consistency of MEI was > 0.93. Test-retest reliability was 0.982 (95% CI 0.975 to 0.987). The Bland & Altman analysis showed a good level of agreement between IIEF-6 and MEI in the whole ED population, with stronger agreement in the organic ED-subpopulation. The estimated AUC of MEI was 0.983 (p<0.0001; 95% CI 0,954 to 0,996) with a score of 27 or lower as the optimal cut-off to discriminate between the presence or the absence of ED during self-induced masturbation. The CCC, the Pearson rho and the Bias Cb were 0.951 (95% CI 0.936 to 0.962), 0.968, and 0.982, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The MEI showed good internal consistency and good level of agreement with IIEF-6. Hence, the MEI fulfills the major psychometric requirements for measuring EF during masturbation.

Limoncin E, Gravina GL, Lotti F, et al. The Masturbation Erection Index (MEI): validation of a new psychometric tool derived from the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-6) and from the Erection Hardness Score (EHS) for measuring erectile function during masturbation. BJU international 2018. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/bju.14560