You can ask your health care provider to refer you to a mental health provider with experience in diagnosing and treating compulsive sexual behavior. Or you may decide to contact a mental health provider directly. A mental health exam may include talking about your:. With your permission, your mental health provider also may request information from family and friends.
There's an ongoing debate among mental health professionals about exactly how to define compulsive sexual behavior.
It's not always easy to figure out when sexual behavior becomes a problem. Compulsive sexual behavior is not listed in the DSMTR as a diagnosis, but sometimes it's diagnosed as part of another mental health condition, such as an impulse control disorder or a behavioral addiction.
In the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases ICD , the World Health Organization defines compulsive sexual behavior disorder as an impulse control disorder. Some mental health professionals consider compulsive sexual behaviors as sexual activities taken to an extreme that cause serious and damaging problems in life. More research is needed to come up with standard guidelines for diagnosis. But, for now, diagnosis and treatment by a mental health professional who has expertise in addictions and compulsive sexual behaviors will likely give the best results.
Treatment for compulsive sexual behavior usually involves talk therapy β also called psychotherapy β medicines and self-help groups. The main goal of treatment is to help you manage urges and reduce problem behaviors while still enjoying healthy sexual activities and relationships.
