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Out-of-Control Sexual Behavior in Women

  • Variations in Orientation, Identity, Addiction, and Compulsion (E Coleman and J Vencill, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The goals of this article are to review the current research on out-of-control sexual behavior, also known as problematic hypersexuality, or hypersexual disorder, as it relates to women. Specifically, the paper reviews the existing epidemiological data, conceptualization of the symptoms, and measurement instruments used clinically and concludes by critically reviewing the small body of recent empirical research on out-of-control sexual behavior in women.

Recent Findings

Women are understudied and often not included in research about out-of-control sexual behavior. Empirical research studies use differing samples—clinical, community, and convenience samples—and use varying scales that capture different elements of the problematic hypersexuality construct. No clear clinical picture of women and problematic hypersexuality exists currently.

Summary

Future research should include women so researchers and clinicians can better understand clinical presentations, etiology, case conceptualization, and treatment of women presenting with beliefs and feelings that their sexual behavior is out of control.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Psychology, Western University, Social Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, N6A 5C2, Canada

    Stephanie Montgomery-Graham

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  1. Stephanie Montgomery-Graham
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Correspondence to Stephanie Montgomery-Graham.

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The author declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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This article contains no studies with human or animal subjects performed by the author.

Additional information

Sandra Leiblum Student Research Award Winner, 2016–2017, awarded though the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR); Joseph Armand-Bombardier Doctoral Scholar, 2016–2019, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Variations in Orientation, Identity, Addiction, and Compulsion

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Montgomery-Graham, S. Out-of-Control Sexual Behavior in Women. Curr Sex Health Rep 9, 200–206 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0125-2

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