The term "sexual addiction" is used to describe the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. Sex and the thought of sex tend to dominate the sex addict's thinking, making it difficult to work or engage in healthy personal relationships.

Sex addicts engage in distorted thinking, often rationalizing and justifying their behavior and blaming others for problems. They generally deny they have a problem and make excuses for their actions.

Sexual addiction also is associated with risk-taking. A person with a sex addiction engages in various forms of sexual activity, despite the potential for negative and/or dangerous consequences. In addition to damaging the addict's relationships and interfering with his or her work and social life, a sexual addiction also puts the person at risk for emotional and physical injury.

For some people, the sex addiction progresses to involve illegal activities, such as exhibitionism (exposing oneself in public), making obscene phone calls, or molestation. However, it should be noted that sex addicts do not necessarily become sex offenders.

Behaviors associated with sexual addiction include:

Compulsive masturbation (self-stimulation)

Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs)

Multiple or anonymous sexual partners and/or one-night stands

Consistent use of pornography

Unsafe sex

Phone or computer sex (cybersex)

Prostitution or use of prostitutes

Exhibitionism

Obsessive dating through personal ads

Voyeurism (watching others) and/or stalking

Sexual harassment

Molestation/rape

Generally, a person with a sex addiction gains little satisfaction from the sexual activity and forms no emotional bond with his or her sex partners. 

In addition, the problem of sex addiction often leads to feelings of guilt and shame. A sex addict also feels a lack of control over the behavior, despite negative consequences (financial, health, social, and emotional).

Self Assessment 

Do you keep secrets about your sexual behavior or romantic fantasies from those important to you? Do you lead a double life? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Have your desires driven you to have sex in places or with people you would not normally choose? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Do you need greater variety, increased frequency, or more extreme sexual activities to achieve the same level of excitement or relief? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Does your use of pornography occupy large amounts of time and/or jeopardize your significant relationships or employment? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Do your relationships become distorted with sexual preoccupation? Does each new relationship have the same destructive pattern which prompted you to leave the last one? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Do you frequently want to get away from a partner after having sex? Do you feel remorse, shame, or guilt after a sexual encounter? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Have your sexual practices caused you legal problems? Could your sexual practices cause you legal problems? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Does your pursuit of sex or sexual fantasy conflict with your moral standards or interfere with your personal spiritual journey? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Do your sexual activities involve coercion, violence, or the threat of disease? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Has your sexual behavior or pursuit of sexual relationships ever left you feeling hopeless, alienated from others, or suicidal? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Does your preoccupation with sexual fantasies cause problems in any area of your life - even when you do not act out your fantasies? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

Do you compulsively avoid sexual activity due to fear of sex or intimacy? Does your sexual avoidance consume you mentally? 
      Yes_____ No_____ 

If you answered “Yes” to more than one of these questions, we encourage you to seek help: 

External Source:

Sex Addicts Anonymous. Reviewed by Debbie Bridges, MD, on March 12, 2010. Last Editorial Review: 3/12/2010