Do Genders Experience Compulsive Sex Differently?

"Jamie is 30 years old. She first encountered pornography at age 11 and gradually moved on to more extreme content, describing herself as addicted and aroused by pain. She now uses pornography daily, sometimes bingeing for whole days or weekends. Although she prefers high-intensity partnered sex at parties, both activities give her similar feelings of arousal and relief. She experiences cycles of being "decent" and self-destructive."

"Out-of-control sexual behavior, now officially termed compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision ( ICD-11; World Health Organization, 2022), has long been recognized in clinical and everyday life, yet for much of its history, scientific understanding has focused primarily on men. But does CSBD look and feel the same for everyone, regardless of gender?"

Compulsive sexual behavior disorder affects people of all genders and presents a similar core pattern of symptoms. Women are underrepresented in research and clinical samples, limiting understanding of female presentations. Women with CSBD more often report trauma histories, elevated shame and guilt, comorbid mental-health problems, and greater barriers to help-seeking. Gender norms and stigma increase secrecy, delay treatment, and complicate recovery for women. Effective care requires inclusive assessment, recognition of trauma and comorbidity, and gender-sensitive prevention and treatment approaches. More gender-balanced research is needed on prevalence, clinical features, and tailored interventions.

Read at Psychology Today