Compulsive sexual behavior

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Compulsive sexual behavior can have numerous negative consequences that affect both you and others. You may:

  • Struggle with feelings of guilt, shame and low self-esteem
  • Develop other mental health conditions, such as depression, extreme stress and anxiety
  • Neglect or lie to your partner and family, taxing or destroying meaningful relationships
  • Accumulate financial debts purchasing pornography and sexual services
  • Contract HIV, hepatitis or another sexually transmitted infection, or pass a sexually transmitted infection to someone else
  • Engage in unhealthy substance use, such as drug or alcohol abuse
  • Be arrested for sexual offenses
  • Lose your focus or engage in sexual activity at work, risking your job
  • Face an unwanted pregnancy and its consequences
References
  1. Marshall LE, et al. Assessment, diagnosis, and management of hypersexual disorders. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 2010;23:570.
  2. Kaplan MS, et al. Diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of hypersexuality. Journal of Sex Research. 2010;47:181.
  3. Paraphilias. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/print/sec16/ch213/ch213c.html. Accessed July 2, 2011.
  4. Mick TM, et al. Impulsive-compulsive sexual behavior. CNS Spectrums. 2006;11:944.
  5. Kuzma J, et al. Epidemiology, prevalence, and natural history of compulsive sexual behavior. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2008;31:603.
  6. Codispoti VL. Pharmacology of sexually compulsive behavior. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2008;31:671.
DS00144 Sept. 15, 2011

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