Hyper/Hypo Sexuality

“Nymphomaniac: A woman that has more sex than you.”

-Dossie Eaton

Definition

Sometimes people have more or less sex than what people consider being usual, and for the most part that’s OK. However, some people feel that this can become a problem in life, which is when it is known as hypersexuality – when someone has too much sex – or hyposexuality – when they don’t have any sex. At one time hypersexuality was known as nymphomania, and you may have heard the term nymphos being used to describe people, especially women, who like to have sex a lot, but it’s an incorrect term to be used unless a doctor or mental health professional has diagnosed it.

When Sex Is A Problem

Having sex isn’t a problem unless you think it is! If you do think your libido has become an issue for you, go to a trusted health professional so they can check on your hormone and endocrine systems to see if there is something internal going on with your sex drive. Sometimes when someone is not interested in sex, which is hyposexuality, there can be other things at play, like depression or other mental health issues. Many times different medications prescribed for other health issues can be the cause of such a problem too. More people feel like hyposexuality is an issue than the opposite side of the pendulum, but others are simply just not as sexually voracious, and that’s OK with them!

Symptoms of Other Things

As previously mentioned, sometimes these types of behaviors are symptoms of other problems. For example, a lack of interest in sex could be indicative of depression. However, having a lot of sex could be an indicator of borderline personality disorder. The main thing to remember is that if you’ve always been a certain way, it’s probably not a problem, but if your behavior, or that of someone you know, changes rapidly, then you might be worried. However, to be honest, everyone’s behavior fluctuates a lot in life!

Posted in H