MEMORANDUM
PAUL W. GRIMM, United States Magistrate Judge.
On February 7, 1997 the Honorable Marvin J. Garbis, United States District Judge, referred this case to the undersigned for determination of all discovery disputes. (Paper No. 42). Currently pending is Defendant The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s Motion to Compel Plaintiffs Answers to Deposition Inquiries (Paper No. 37) and Plaintiffs opposition thereto (Paper No. 38). For reasons discussed below, and [180]*180subject to the terms and conditions set forth, the Motion to Compel is granted in part and denied iii part.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, P.J. Herchenroeder (“Herchen-roeder”), has sued her former employer, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (“APL”), and a former supervisor, Phil Sodergren (“Sodergren”). Her-chenroeder alleges, inter alia, that she was sexually harassed in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000(e) el seq., and that Sodergren defamed her by routinely accusing her of “having sexual relations with a business associate” [Warren Brood] with whom she often traveled. By Order dated September 24, 1996, the District Judge granted summary judgment in the Defendants” favor on all counts with the exception of the Title VII sexual harassment count and common law defamation count. (Paper Nos. 35 and 36).
Defendant APL deposed Herehenroeder on March 5 and 6, 1996. During the deposition, counsel for APL asked Herchenroeder whether she and Brood had ever engaged in any type of sexual activity. Herchenroeder replied “no.”1 APL’s attorney then asked Herchenroeder whether she and Brood had “ever discussed” engaging in sexual activity. Upon instruction from her attorney, Herchenroeder refused to answer the question.2
Following the deposition, counsel for APL corresponded with counsel for Herchenroe-der in an attempt to persuade him to withdraw his instruction not to answer the question. These efforts were unsuccessful and, on January 10, 1997, counsel for APL filed the pending Motion to Compel.3 (Paper No. 37). Plaintiff subsequently filed a motion in opposition (Paper No. 38) to which APS has replied (Paper No. 41).
In its Motion to Compel, APL asserts that the information sought regarding whether Herchenroeder and Brood discussed engaging in any type of sexual activity is relevant for three reasons: (1) the inquiry is relevant to the Title VII claim because it might relate to “the environment in which alleged harassment occurred and any behavior of [the] Plaintiff which would have lead Sodergren ... to believe that his conduct, as alleged, was welcomed”; (2) the inquiry is relevant to the defamation claim, insofar as it may lead to admissible evidence showing that the statements allegedly made by Sodergren were true and/or were not made maliciously, recklessly, or neglectfully; and (3) the inquiry is relevant to the credibility of Brood who, in addition to being the co-worker with whom Herchenroeder allegedly had intimate relations, is also a critical witness on her behalf with regard to her sexual harassment claims.
In her opposition to the Motion to Compel, Herchenroeder asserts that the answer to the question objected to is not admissible into evidence under Fed.R.Evid. 412 and, thus, the information is not discoverable. [181]*181Herchenroeder points out that she answered “no” when directly questioned about whether she and Brood had engaged in sexual relations, and that her answer was fully corroborated by Brood during his deposition. Accordingly, she contends, the purpose of the question is simply to embarrass her, invade her privacy, and discourage her from proceeding with her claims against APL and Sodergren.
DISCUSSION
Herchenroeder correctly notes that Fed.R.Evid. 412, amended in 1994, was intended to “afford increased protection to alleged victims of sexual misconduct, in either civil or criminal proceedings, to safeguard them against the invasion of privacy, potential embarrassment and sexual stereotyping that is associated with public disclosure of intimate sexual details and the infusion of sexual innuendo into the fact finding process.” 4 Moreover, the Advisory Committee Notes make it clear that Rule 412 applies in civil cases in general,5 and Title VII sexual harassment cases in particular,6 though it may not be applicable to certain defamation actions.7 Further, the scope of the prohibition against admissibility of evidence of an alleged victim’s sexual behavior or predisposition as established by Rule 412 is broad, reaching activities involving actual physical conduct, sexual intercourse or sexual contact, as well as activities of the mind, such as fantasies or dreams.8
Although it is clear that Fed.R.Evid. 412 will govern the admissibility of the evidence sought by counsel for APL at trial, relevance not admissibility, is the appropriate inquiry with regard to whether or not the information sought by APL is discoverable. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(b)(1).9 Indeed, the Advisory Committee Notes to the 1994 amendments to Rule 412 make it clear that the focus of the rule is admissibility at trial, not discovery during pretrial proceedings.10 In the words of the Committee Notes:
procedures set forth in subsection (c) do not apply to discovery of a victim’s past sexual conduct or predisposition in civil cases, which will be continued to be governed by Fed.R.Civ.P. 26.
Fed.R.Evid. 412, Advisory Committee Notes, Subdivision (c) (emphasis added).
However, the Committee Notes quickly add that:
In order not to undermine the rationale of Rule 412, however, Courts should enter appropriate orders pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(c) to protect the victim against unwarranted inquiries and to insure confidentiality. Courts should presumptively issue protective orders barring discovery unless the party seeking discovery makes a showing that the evidence sought to be discovered would be relevant, under the [182]*182facts and theories of the particular ease, and cannot be obtained except through discovery. In an action for sexual harassment, for instance, while some evidence of the alleged victim’s sexual behavior and/or predisposition in the work place may perhaps be relevant, non-work place conduct will usually be irrelevant____ Confidentiality orders should be presumptively granted as well.
Id.
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MEMORANDUM
PAUL W. GRIMM, United States Magistrate Judge.
On February 7, 1997 the Honorable Marvin J. Garbis, United States District Judge, referred this case to the undersigned for determination of all discovery disputes. (Paper No. 42). Currently pending is Defendant The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s Motion to Compel Plaintiffs Answers to Deposition Inquiries (Paper No. 37) and Plaintiffs opposition thereto (Paper No. 38). For reasons discussed below, and [180]*180subject to the terms and conditions set forth, the Motion to Compel is granted in part and denied iii part.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, P.J. Herchenroeder (“Herchen-roeder”), has sued her former employer, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (“APL”), and a former supervisor, Phil Sodergren (“Sodergren”). Her-chenroeder alleges, inter alia, that she was sexually harassed in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000(e) el seq., and that Sodergren defamed her by routinely accusing her of “having sexual relations with a business associate” [Warren Brood] with whom she often traveled. By Order dated September 24, 1996, the District Judge granted summary judgment in the Defendants” favor on all counts with the exception of the Title VII sexual harassment count and common law defamation count. (Paper Nos. 35 and 36).
Defendant APL deposed Herehenroeder on March 5 and 6, 1996. During the deposition, counsel for APL asked Herchenroeder whether she and Brood had ever engaged in any type of sexual activity. Herchenroeder replied “no.”1 APL’s attorney then asked Herchenroeder whether she and Brood had “ever discussed” engaging in sexual activity. Upon instruction from her attorney, Herchenroeder refused to answer the question.2
Following the deposition, counsel for APL corresponded with counsel for Herchenroe-der in an attempt to persuade him to withdraw his instruction not to answer the question. These efforts were unsuccessful and, on January 10, 1997, counsel for APL filed the pending Motion to Compel.3 (Paper No. 37). Plaintiff subsequently filed a motion in opposition (Paper No. 38) to which APS has replied (Paper No. 41).
In its Motion to Compel, APL asserts that the information sought regarding whether Herchenroeder and Brood discussed engaging in any type of sexual activity is relevant for three reasons: (1) the inquiry is relevant to the Title VII claim because it might relate to “the environment in which alleged harassment occurred and any behavior of [the] Plaintiff which would have lead Sodergren ... to believe that his conduct, as alleged, was welcomed”; (2) the inquiry is relevant to the defamation claim, insofar as it may lead to admissible evidence showing that the statements allegedly made by Sodergren were true and/or were not made maliciously, recklessly, or neglectfully; and (3) the inquiry is relevant to the credibility of Brood who, in addition to being the co-worker with whom Herchenroeder allegedly had intimate relations, is also a critical witness on her behalf with regard to her sexual harassment claims.
In her opposition to the Motion to Compel, Herchenroeder asserts that the answer to the question objected to is not admissible into evidence under Fed.R.Evid. 412 and, thus, the information is not discoverable. [181]*181Herchenroeder points out that she answered “no” when directly questioned about whether she and Brood had engaged in sexual relations, and that her answer was fully corroborated by Brood during his deposition. Accordingly, she contends, the purpose of the question is simply to embarrass her, invade her privacy, and discourage her from proceeding with her claims against APL and Sodergren.
DISCUSSION
Herchenroeder correctly notes that Fed.R.Evid. 412, amended in 1994, was intended to “afford increased protection to alleged victims of sexual misconduct, in either civil or criminal proceedings, to safeguard them against the invasion of privacy, potential embarrassment and sexual stereotyping that is associated with public disclosure of intimate sexual details and the infusion of sexual innuendo into the fact finding process.” 4 Moreover, the Advisory Committee Notes make it clear that Rule 412 applies in civil cases in general,5 and Title VII sexual harassment cases in particular,6 though it may not be applicable to certain defamation actions.7 Further, the scope of the prohibition against admissibility of evidence of an alleged victim’s sexual behavior or predisposition as established by Rule 412 is broad, reaching activities involving actual physical conduct, sexual intercourse or sexual contact, as well as activities of the mind, such as fantasies or dreams.8
Although it is clear that Fed.R.Evid. 412 will govern the admissibility of the evidence sought by counsel for APL at trial, relevance not admissibility, is the appropriate inquiry with regard to whether or not the information sought by APL is discoverable. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(b)(1).9 Indeed, the Advisory Committee Notes to the 1994 amendments to Rule 412 make it clear that the focus of the rule is admissibility at trial, not discovery during pretrial proceedings.10 In the words of the Committee Notes:
procedures set forth in subsection (c) do not apply to discovery of a victim’s past sexual conduct or predisposition in civil cases, which will be continued to be governed by Fed.R.Civ.P. 26.
Fed.R.Evid. 412, Advisory Committee Notes, Subdivision (c) (emphasis added).
However, the Committee Notes quickly add that:
In order not to undermine the rationale of Rule 412, however, Courts should enter appropriate orders pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(c) to protect the victim against unwarranted inquiries and to insure confidentiality. Courts should presumptively issue protective orders barring discovery unless the party seeking discovery makes a showing that the evidence sought to be discovered would be relevant, under the [182]*182facts and theories of the particular ease, and cannot be obtained except through discovery. In an action for sexual harassment, for instance, while some evidence of the alleged victim’s sexual behavior and/or predisposition in the work place may perhaps be relevant, non-work place conduct will usually be irrelevant____ Confidentiality orders should be presumptively granted as well.
Id.
Additionally, other courts have held that, in sexual harassment eases, Rule 412 is applicable to resolving discovery disputes involving an alleged victim’s past sexual behavior. See, e.g., Sanchez v. Zabihi, 166 F.R.D. 500 (D.N.M.1996) (Rule 412 is significant in determining discovery disputes regarding sexual harassment victims’ past personal, romantic or sexual behavior at the workplace); Barta v. City and County of Honolulu, 169 F.R.D. 132, 135 (D.Haw.1996) (holding that Rule 412 “must inform the proper scope of discovery” in sexual harassment eases). Thus, in determining whether the requested discovery in the present case is appropriate, I must look to both Fed.R.Civ.P. 26 and Fed.R.Evid. 412.
I am persuaded that the information sought by the questions posed to Herehenroeder has some relevance, as contemplated by Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(b), to her Title VII11 and defamation claims against the Defendants, and is also relevant with respect to the credibility of Boord, a critical witness on her behalf. However, I am also keenly aware of the highly sensitive nature of the subject matter of the inquiry. Accordingly, I do not believe that the requested discovery should be permitted without an appropriate protective order/confidentiality agreement as contemplated by Fed.R.Evid. 412. In this regard, APL indicates that it is willing to enter into such a protective order. (Paper No. 38 at 3).
In addition, I believe that the requested discovery should be obtained by the least intrusive means possible. In a letter dated May 13, 1996, counsel for APL identified “[t]he two precise questions” he would like to have answered by Herchenroeder. They are:
1. Have you and Mr. Boord ever discussed having a sexual relationship?
2. Do you deny ever discussing with Mr. Boord having a sexual relationship?
Given the fact that counsel for APL acknowledges that the inquiry he desires may be answered by responses to these two “precise” questions, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(c)(3), I will order that they be posed to her in the form of written interrogatories, to be answered in writing, under oath as provided by Fed.R.CivJP. 33(b). It is expected that Herchenroeder will respond to these questions completely and candidly.12 Thereafter, if counsel,for APL believes that further inquiry into this subject matter is warranted, he can so advise me and I will determine at that time whether the Plaintiff should be required to submit to further questioning by way of oral examination in a continued deposition.13
With respect to the terms of the protective order/ confidentiality agreement, I would like [183]*183the parties to confer in an attempt to negotiate appropriate terms by consent.14 If they are unable to do so, I will establish these terms. Counsel for APL may serve the above two interrogatories on the Plaintiff once the terms of the protective order/confidentiality agreement have been reached and I have been notified in writing of this agreement, or, if the parties are unable to agree, an Order is imposed by the Court.
The Court at this time will not require that either party show cause as to why costs and expenses should not be assessed. Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(a)(4)(B). I will, however, revisit this issue if, upon motion, I find that candid and complete responses to Defendant’s interrogatories were not forthcoming.
A separate Order shall issue in accordance with this Memorandum.