Sex addiction which affects 3 to 6% of the population is purely biological, according to a new study. Many sex addicts are embarrassed to discuss this health problem because it is still extremely taboo which keeps them from seeking treatment.
Read Also: St George’s University: Even Young People Can Be Affected by Sudden Death during Sex
Differences in the amount of oxytocin in the body explain why some men suffer from sex addiction and others do not, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Loss of control, anxiety, depression
Table of Contents
Although sex is very good for your health, those who are addicted to it and lost control suffer from the same problems that all addictions cause: loss of control, anxiety, and depression. In fact, sex addiction can destroy an addict’s personal and professional life, and even some extreme cases lead to suicide.
In order to improve treatment for people suffering from sex addiction, researchers wanted to find out what causes it. To find out they analyzed blood samples from 64 men who had undergone treatment to cure their sex addiction and compared them with blood samples from 38 men who had led a healthy sex life. The result: the sex addicts had much higher levels of oxytocin in their bodies than the other men.
Read Also: Sexual Behavior in Males and Females Are Determined by Specific Brain Genetic Activity
Higher levels of oxytocin
To confirm their findings, the researchers analyzed the sex addicts’ blood before and after they underwent cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat their problem. They found that the patients’ oxytocin levels were lower after they had completed all the psychological sessions.
“We found that men with compulsive sexual behavior disorder had higher levels of oxytocin than men who were stable in this area,” said study author Dr. Andreas Chatzittofis. “Cognitive-behavioral therapy led to a reduction in patients’ urges and oxytocin levels,” he concluded. Finally, it should be noted that women can also suffer from sex addiction, although the researchers did not address this issue in this study.
Read Also: Treating Low-Libido (Hypogonadism) In Men: Viagra Is Not a Suitable Prescription
Final thoughts
Sexual addiction generally requires a strong libido and this study has shown that men that are hypersexual have higher levels of oxytocin in their blood and the way to treat them is to bring their levels of this hormone down. However, what if increasing the levels of oxytocin could make men with low sex drive who also suffer from anxiety and depression more sexual.? This certainly would help a lot of couples improve their sex lives. Just food for thought!
References
High Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Men With Hypersexual Disorder
FEEDBACK:
