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Things to consider
Libido refers to sexual desire, or the emotion and mental energy related to sex. Another term for it is “sex drive.”
Your libido is influenced by:
- biological factors, such as testosterone and estrogen levels
- psychological factors, such as stress levels
- social factors, such as intimate relationships
High libido is difficult to define since the baseline for “normal” libido depends on the person. It’s different for everybody.
One person’s “normal” may be a desire for sex once a day, while someone else’s “normal” is having zero sex drive.
Is there such a thing as ‘too high’?
According to the Nico women clinic, a high libido potentially becomes a problem when it results in sexual activity that feels out of control, such as sexual compulsion.
This is also known as hypersexuality or out of control sexual behaviour (OCSB).
Signs of sexual compulsion often include:
- Your sexual behaviour is having a negative impact on other areas of your life, such as your health, relationships, work, etc.
- You’ve repeatedly tried to limit or stop your sexual behaviour but can’t.
- You’re secretive about your sexual behaviour.
- You feel dependent on your sexual behaviour.
- You don’t feel fulfilled when you substitute other activities for your sexual behaviour.
- You use sexual behaviour to escape from problems, such as anger, stress, depression, loneliness, or anxiety.
- You have difficulty establishing and maintaining stable, healthy relationships due to your sexual behaviour.
What causes compulsive sexual behaviour?
The causes of compulsive sexual behaviour haven’t been clearly established yet.
Potential causes include:
- Neurotransmitter imbalance. Compulsive sexual behaviour may be related to high levels of chemicals in your brain known as neurotransmitters (think dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine) that help regulate your mood.
- Medication. Some dopamine agonist medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease may cause compulsive sexual behaviour.
- Health conditions. Parts of the brain that affect sexual behaviour may be damaged by conditions such as epilepsy and dementia.
When to see a healthcare provider
If you feel that you’ve lost control of your sexual behaviour, help is available.
Sexual behaviour is deeply personal, making it difficult for some people to seek help if they’re having any sexual issues.
But remember:
- You’re not alone. There are many people also dealing with sexual problems.
- The right treatment can help improve the quality of your life.
- Your doctor will keep your information confidential.
