XYGO: proposing a new holistic measure of gender identity and sexual orientation

Gender identity (GI) and sexual orientation (SO) are key aspects of an individual's sexual identity, which is a major driver of human sexuality. Although definitions for GI and SO have been long established and represented in clinical and theoretical research, often without acknowledgement of their relationship to one another, the ideal means by which they should be measured is unclear. Various tools for measurement have been proposed, each presenting different methodological approaches along with their respective flaws and issues. By providing a comprehensive overview of the major instruments for measuring GI and SO, the XYGO tool aims to integrate their strengths by developing a new, cohesive and inclusive perspective on sexual identity, taking into consideration both dimensions of this unique characteristic of human sexuality. This holistic perspective integrates these components into a single construct capable of providing a more immediate and tailored interpretation to facilitate everyday clinical practice and potentially improve research in sexual medicine and psychosexology.