Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2026

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Short scale to measure female sexuality: adapted from McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire
L Dennerstein1, P Lehert, E Dudley
1Office for Gender and Health, Department of Psychiatry, 6th Floor, Charles Connibere Building, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia. ldenn@unimelb.edu.au
Abstract:
This article examines sex-questionnaire data using the Personal Experiences Questionnaire (PEQ; Dennerstein, Hopper, & Burger, 1997). We used data from a population-based sample of 354 Australian mid-aged women and an optimization procedure in order to reduce the length of the PEQ while retaining items measuring the components of female sexual functioning and key determinants. Eight items were selected. We recommend retaining the item related to orgasm (rejected for parsimony only). Eight of the nine items were from the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire, confirming the validity of this source scale. The original wording in the McCoy scale is recommended as considerable data has now become available on reliability and validity.
Related Concept Videos
Self-Report Tests of Personality
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital
External Female Genitals
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic
McNemar's Test
Nursing Assessment of the Genitourinary System II: Inspection and Palpation

