A Modern Perspective on Nymphomania

Abstract

There is a stark contrast between the widespread myth of nymphomania and women who actually experience disruptive increases in sexual desire. Nymphomania can be defined in terms of three distinct elements: marked increase in sexual drive; extremely frequent partner sexual behavior; promiscuity. The essence of the problem, however, is the disruptive increase in desire. Causes often involve one or more of the following: acting out; atypical psychoses; alcohol and/or drug abuse; temporal lobe disorders; involvement with an inappropriate partner; response to another sexual dysfunction. Many of these women are unable to derive emotional satisfaction from sex.