Last update and review: February 12, 2020.
In a 2008 study (1), O’Connor and colleagues investigated if the European Male Ageing Study–sexual function questionnaire (EMAS–SFQ) could discriminate between men with high and low levels of circulating testosterone (T) (total T, free T, and bioavailable T).
Unfortunately, O’Connor et al., 2008 (1), did not attempt to separate subjective and objective symptoms of hypogonadism and sexual function. This limits the possible practical application of the questionnaire considerably. The questionnaire is still of interest. We put its text below in this article.
O’Connor et al., 2008 (1):
One thousand six hundred men aged 40–79 years completed the self-administered EMAS–SFQ, the Beck depression inventory, and provided a blood sample for assessment of sex hormones.
The conclusions of the study (1):
The EMAS–SFQ is a valid and reproducible instrument, sensitive to age and T levels. It should be suitable for the assessment of sexual health in population samples of men in epidemiological studies of aging.
EMAS Sexual Function Questionnaire (EMAS–SFQ) (1).
Please circle the one response that best describes you IN THE LAST MONTH.
1. Please tick one statement that best describes your circumstances.
1. I have been living with my wife.
2. I have been living with my partner.
3. I have a sexual partner but we did not live together.
4. I do not have a sexual partner.
2. How often did you think about sex? This includes times of just being interested in sex, daydreaming,
or fantasizing about sex, as well as times when you wanted to have sex.
0. Not at all
1. Once in the last month
2. 2–3 times in the last month
3. Once a week
4. 2–3 times a week
5. 4–6 times a week
6. Once a day
7. More than once a day
3. Are you worried or distressed by your current level of sexual drive/desire?
0. Not at all worried or distressed
1. A little bit worried or distressed
2. Moderately worried or distressed
3. Very worried or distressed
4. Extremely worried or distressed
4. Compared with a year ago, has your sexual drive/desire changed?
+2. Increased a lot
+1. Increased moderately
0. Neither increased nor decreased
-1. Decreased moderately
-2. Decreased a lot
If you did NOT have a sexual partner in the LAST MONTH, please skip questions 5 and 6 and go straight to question 7.
5. How many times have you attempted sexual intercourse?
0. Not at all
1. Once in the last month
2. 2–3 times in the last month
3. Once a week
4. 2–3 times a week
5. 4–6 times a week
6. Once a day
7. More than once a day
6. Apart from when you attempted sexual intercourse, how frequently did you engage in activities such as kissing, fondling, petting, etc.?
0. Not at all
1. Once in the last month
2. 2–3 times in the last month
3. Once a week
4. 2–3 times a week
5. 4–6 times a week
6. Once a day
7. More than once a day
7. How often did you masturbate?
0. Not at all
1. Once in the last month
2. 2–3 times in the last month
3. Once a week
4. 2–3 times a week
5. 4–6 times a week
6. Once a day
7. More than once a day
8. Are you worried or distressed by the overall frequency of your sexual activities (including intercourse, kissing, etc., and masturbation)?
0. Not at all worried or distressed (Skip question 8A and go straight to question 9)
1. A little bit worried or distressed
2. Moderately worried or distressed
3. Very worried or distressed
4. Extremely worried or distressed
8A. If you are worried or distressed by the current frequency of your sexual activities, do you consider it to be
1. Too frequent
2. Not frequent enough
9. Compared with a year ago, has the overall frequency of your sexual activities changed?
+2. Increased a lot
+1. Increased moderately
0. Neither increased nor decreased
-1. Decreased moderately
-2. Decreased a lot
It is common for men to experience erectile problems. This may mean that one is not always able to get or keep an erection that is rigid enough for satisfactory activity (including sexual intercourse and
masturbation).
In the LAST MONTH:
10. You are
1. Always able to keep an erection which would be good enough for sexual intercourse
2. Usually able to get and keep an erection which would be good enough for sexual intercourse
3. Sometimes able to get and keep an erection which would be good enough for sexual intercourse
4. Never able to get and keep an erection which would be good enough for sexual intercourse
11. Are you worried or distressed by your current ability to have an erection?
0. Not at all worried or distressed
1. A little bit worried or distressed
2. Moderately worried or distressed
3. Very worried or distressed
4. Extremely worried or distressed
12. Compared with a year ago, has your ability to have an erection changed?
+2. Increased a lot
+1. Increased moderately
0. Neither increased nor decreased
-1. Decreased moderately
-2. Decreased a lot
13. When you had sexual stimulation, how often did you have the feeling of orgasm or climax?
0. No sexual intercourse/masturbation
1. Almost never/never
2. A few times (much less than half the time)
3. Sometimes (about half the time)
4. Most of the time (much more than half the time)
5. Almost always/always
14. Are you worried or distressed by your current orgasmic experience?
0. Not at all worried or distressed
1. A little bit worried or distressed
2. Moderately worried or distressed
3. Very worried or distressed
4. Extremely worried or distressed
15. Compared with a year ago, has the enjoyment of your orgasmic experience changed?
+2. Increased a lot
+1. Increased moderately
0. Neither increased nor decreased
-1. Decreased moderately
-2. Decreased a lot
16. How frequently did you awaken with full erection?
0. Not at all
1. Once in the last month
2. 2–3 times in the last month
3. Once a week
4. 2–3 times a week
5. 4–6 times a week
6. Once a day
7. More than once a day
17. Are you worried or distressed by the frequency of your morning erections?
0. Not at all worried or distressed
1. A little bit worried or distressed
2. Moderately worried or distressed
3. Very worried or distressed
4. Extremely worried or distressed
18. Compared with a year ago, has the frequency of your morning erections changed?
+2. Increased a lot
+1. Increased moderately
0. Neither increased nor decreased
-1. Decreased moderately
-2. Decreased a lot
19. How satisfied have you been with your overall sex life?
0. Very dissatisfied
1. Moderately dissatisfied
2. About equally satisfied and dissatisfied
3. Moderately satisfied
4. Very satisfied
20. How satisfied have you been with your general (nonsexual) relationship with your partner?
1. Very dissatisfied
2. Moderately dissatisfied
3. About equally satisfied and dissatisfied
4. Moderately satisfied
5. Very satisfied
Selected references:
1. O’Connor et al., J Sex Med 2008;5:1374–1385.
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