What is the sipra membership?

How is your erectile function, scored?

Jillian Foglesong Stabile, MD

FAAFP, DABOM · Reviewed June 10, 2026 · 5-item IIEF-5 (SHIM)

Question 1 of 5

How do you rate your confidence that you could get and keep an erection?

Screener, not a diagnosis. The IIEF-5 quantifies erectile-function symptoms; a licensed physician evaluates the cause and treatment options. Individual results vary.

Chapter 01 · The index

What the IIEF-5 score means

The IIEF-5, also published as the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), is a 5-question short form of the International Index of Erectile Function, validated by Rosen and colleagues in 1999 as a brief diagnostic aid for erectile dysfunction.¹ Each item is scored 1 to 5, so the total runs from 5 to 25. A higher score means better erectile function.

Score	Severity band	What it suggests
22 to 25	No erectile dysfunction	No further action needed unless you have concerns
17 to 21	Mild	A clinician visit is reasonable
12 to 16	Mild to moderate	Evaluation often benefits
8 to 11	Moderate	Clinician evaluation recommended
5 to 7	Severe	Clinician evaluation strongly suggested

Severity bands from the validated IIEF-5. The score is a starting point, not a diagnosis.

Chapter 02 · The signal

Erectile function is a health signal

Erectile dysfunction is common and very treatable, and it can also be an early warning sign. The penis relies on small blood vessels, so ED can appear before other symptoms of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure. Major urology guidelines recommend that men presenting with ED be evaluated for these conditions as part of the workup.² Mood, stress, relationship factors, sleep, alcohol, and several medications also contribute.

Because the causes range from vascular to hormonal to psychological, a clinician evaluation looks at the whole picture rather than jumping to one explanation. That is also why a single questionnaire cannot tell you the cause; it only quantifies the symptom.

Chapter 03 · The fine print

What this score does not do

The IIEF-5 does not diagnose erectile dysfunction, identify its cause, or determine which treatment is right for you. It is a validated way to describe how bothered you are and to track change over time. A licensed physician interprets it alongside your history, exam, and any tests, and discusses evidence-based options. Individual results vary.

Your score quantifies a symptom; it does not explain it. A clinician evaluates the cause and discusses what, if anything, to treat.

Every medication on sipra is prescribed by a licensed physician, so your care always starts with a visit. Your sipra membership gives you ongoing access to those physician visits, so you can check in, adjust your plan, and ask questions whenever you need, without paying per visit. It is how we keep high-quality care convenient: one membership, physician access whenever you need it, and support at every step.

Sources

Rosen RC, Cappelleri JC, Smith MD, Lipsky J, Pena BM. "Development and evaluation of an abridged, 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5)." Int J Impot Res. 1999;11(6):319-326. doi.org
Burnett AL, Nehra A, Breau RH, et al. "Erectile Dysfunction: AUA Guideline." J Urol. 2018;200(3):633-641. doi.org

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General education, not medical advice. Last reviewed June 10, 2026 by Jillian Foglesong Stabile, MD, FAAFP, DABOM. Prices snapshot 5-item IIEF-5 (SHIM). Individual results vary.