Popularly, nymphomania has been used to classify women who have a sexual appetite above what is generally expected or accepted in society, or those who simply enjoy their sexuality without prejudice. However, in reality, the term refers to a pathological condition that causes great discomfort and impairs many areas of the person’s life.
Currently, this disorder is known as “hypersexuality”, “sex addiction” or “compulsive sexual disorder”, and is estimated to affect about 6% of the population. Nymphomania, specifically, refers to female hypersexuality, while male hypersexuality is called satyriasis. However, in both cases the symptoms are similar.
What is Nymphomania?
Nymphomania is characterized by an excessive sexual desire that the person can’t control. Fantasies, masturbation or sexual intercourse occupy a large part of their time and mental energy and interfere with their functioning in other areas.
In general, the following diagnostic criteria have been proposed:
- When the time spent in sexual activity (either thinking about it or performing it) interferes with how they attend to their other responsibilities and areas of their life.
- When sex is used to regulate unpleasant emotional states and is resorted to when they feel anxious, sad or empty, as a way to evade the emotion.
- When the sexual desire is impossible to control, even when the person wants to, and attempts to, control it.
- When, despite the obvious physical, emotional, and social problems caused by the disorder, the same behavior continues.
In addition to the above, we can see the following signs:
- Masturbation is excessive and may even cause physical injury to the genitals or take place at inappropriate times.
- A frequent and compulsive use of pornography.
- Intense and recurrent sexual fantasies that are unwanted and uncontrollable.
- Multiple sexual partners with whom the person seeks to obtain satisfaction that they never really achieve. In addition, feelings of guilt, shame and regret usually appear.
Causes of nymphomania
As with many psychological disorders, there’s no clear or single known cause that can account for the onset of nymphomania. However, there are some related risk factors that may contribute:
- Having been a victim of sexual abuse in the past. It’s common for those who suffered traumatic and non-consensual sexual relations in childhood to develop hypersexual behaviors later on.
- Having low self-esteem and a poor self-concept. This can lead women to seek self-validation through sex. By feeling desired and sleeping with multiple sexual partners, she “patches up” this feeling of emptiness and believes that her importance increases.
- Sometimes, certain poorly managed stressful and negative situations can trigger this type of behavior. For example, a recent breakup with a partner can lead to the person seeking refuge in sexual relationships to obtain the attention and affection that they have lost.
- There also appears to be a biological component. Experts believe that, in nymphomania, there may be certain changes in brain neurotransmitters, as well as epileptic activity in certain areas related to the regulation of sexual desire.
What are the consequences?
We often have the misconception that nymphomania is just a heightened sexual desire and that the person must enjoy it and isn’t inconvenienced by it beyond the moral implications. However, this is not the case at all.
In reality, hypersexuality is a kind of addiction without substance. In fact, it has been observed that these people can develop tolerance (they need more and more sexual activity) and withdrawal symptoms if they try to curb their behavior.
The person finds it difficult to control their impulses. Because of this, fantasies, masturbation, and sex aren’t something that the person enjoys and decides to carry out, but something that can’t be avoided or controlled. Sex is lived compulsively, the desire is insatiable, and this causes serious damage.
Many areas of their lives are often affected, including work, their family life, and their relationship with their partner. In addition, many people with this disorder also suffer from depression, anxiety disorders, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. For this reason, seeking help and intervention is paramount.
Treatment of nymphomania
Treatment for nymphomania, or female hypersexuality, usually combines medication and psychotherapy. Regarding the first point, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, or medication to treat addictions may be prescribed. However, psychological support is essential.
In this sense, different currents such as cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, or acceptance and commitment therapy can be followed. The aim will be to regulate obsessive thoughts, achieve behavioral and impulse control, and improve damaged social relationships.
When treating certain addictions, total abstinence is sought, but, in this case, this isn’t the objective. The treatment seeks to help the person to be able to enjoy a more conscious and regulated sex life. For this reason, support groups are also a valuable resource to turn to.
