Erection self‑check
9 short questions, about 1 minute. The erection questions come from the IIEF-5, the 5-question erection score used by doctors and in clinical studies.
The check does not diagnose erectile dysfunction. It shows how strongly erections are affected and what to check next.
About 1 in 2 men aged 40 to 70 report some degree of erectile dysfunction. Most causes are treatable.
How is the erection self-check scored?
The IIEF-5 uses five questions. Some answers can score 0 when there has been no sexual activity, so totals below 5 are possible. The usual interpretation bands cover scores of 5 to 25. The IIEF-5 uses these bands for the total score (International Journal of Impotence Research, 1999):
| Total score | Erectile function |
|---|---|
| 22 to 25 | No erectile dysfunction |
| 17 to 21 | Mild erectile dysfunction |
| 12 to 16 | Mild to moderate erectile dysfunction |
| 8 to 11 | Moderate erectile dysfunction |
| 5 to 7 | Severe erectile dysfunction |
The questions cover the past 6 months. A score without recent intercourse is low by design, because 4 of the 5 questions count attempts at intercourse.
What the check does not do
The check measures erection function, not its cause. Blood vessel disease, diabetes, low testosterone, medicines, stress and anxiety cause the same scores. Nitrates for chest pain, and chest pain or breathlessness on exertion, always need a doctor’s assessment before any erection tablet.
What comes after the check?
- What erectile dysfunction is: erectile dysfunction.
- The first consultation: ED consultation.
- Erection tablets: sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).
- Early ejaculation as well: premature ejaculation treatment.
- All options: Sexual Health & Libido Clinic Dubai.
Dr Felix Happich is a German-trained physician licensed by the Dubai Health Authority and sees every patient himself at Dubai Healthcare City.