A popular book published in 1970, Human Sexual Inadequacy, focused on the optimism and failings that are involved in diagnosing and treating sexual dysfunction. The problem behind this theory is determining who exactly gets to decide what is "inadequate" when it comes to sexual practices.

Today, this question was addressed by health journalist Ray Moynihan and Mintzes, a University of British Columbia assistant professor. These colleagues set out to try and expose the misdealing in the pharmaceutical industry and how companies in this field aim to profit from women’s perceived sexual inadequacies.

They argue that they have exposed an industry that is desperate to find illness where none exists, and to exploit dysfunction in order to turn a profit. They also suggest that based on statistics alone, female sexual dysfunction (FSD) affects as many as two thirds of the female population. The problem is that the definition of the condition – and the condition itself – is so vague, that the stats are virtually meaningless.

Still, pharmaceutical companies have identified FSD as the next big thing in its industry, much like male sexual dysfunction and attention deficit disorder in years past. The researchers argue that personal, interpersonal, cultural, psychological and historical sources drive female sexual inadequacies. They also suggest that pharmaceutical companies will exploit such feelings of low self worth, offering medication to cure an ill that may not even exist.

Some myths about females and sex addiction include that women can’t become sex addicts. This false belief can facilitate a sense of isolation and prevent them from finding help.

Another common myth is that for women, the addiction always revolves around emotional desperation. However, the sexual addiction can be about a desire to be stronger than negative feelings, such as those that can result from being a victim of abuse or neglect. Ultimately, a woman’s addiction to sex can be based in a desire for power.

It is also a false assumption that the effects of sexual addiction are not as severe on women as they are for men. Losing financial resources, personal relationships and low self-esteem can be just as powerful for female sexual addicts as men, in addition to other problems, like sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.

Many times, a female who is a sexual addict will use sex to keep a relationship going, even if it is not a healthy relationship. Some women who suffer from sexual addiction have not been part of a relationship that wasn’t rooted in sex, and may not know how to act in a healthy relationship if sex is not included.

The issue of sexual addiction and women can be further complicated by societal messages about what is acceptable for women, and the fact that these sexual norms can differ between men and women. Still, deciding if a woman’s sexual behaviors are problematic or addictive can be based on core issues like whether or not she can control the sexual actions, and if she maintains the behaviors even though they can lead to depression and serious life disruptions.

Like males with sexual addictions, women can also display an obsession toward how and when they will get their next “fix,” or spend abnormal amounts of time finding and thinking about partners. Sometimes, sexual compulsion in women looks like confidence or self-assuredness, but the behavior then becomes a repeated cycle and something she cannot control. Other manifestations include masturbation in public locations, having many sexual partners and an obsessive interest in pornographic material.

Additional symptoms, like overeating, depression or substance abuse can also point to an underlying problem with sexual addiction. Because the sexual behaviors and associated symptoms can cover up serious mental problems, women with sexual addictions can be particularly vulnerable to lifelong consequences. Professional therapy is recommended to lead female sexual addicts to recovery, before the addiction causes the destruction of family, career, finances and her future.
 

When we think of Internet porn, we often imagine a 20-something guy in his room taking care of business while flipping through pictures and videos. However, more and more women are getting hooked on Internet porn. Teens are exposed to porn at a younger age than ever – and their curiosity often gets the best of them. This early exposure to porn could be detrimental to their sexual development.

Porn and sex addiction, like any addiction, gets worse over time. Many porn addicts will tell you they have to escalate the type of porn they view to get the same effect. Sounds a lot like drug addiction, doesn’t it? The brain reacts to the visual stimuli, the viewer becomes aroused, and endorphins are released. They might start with straightforward videos then move toward those with themes that would make the average adult cringe: animals, violence, feces, and other shocking topics

Rob Weiss of the Sexual Recovery Institute says that if you reach orgasm by viewing pornography on a regular basis, you will “attach to sex as object relationships as opposed to intimate relationships.” The obsession destroys intimacy because rather than relational it becomes object oriented.

Partners of those addicted to pornography may feel the other person is detached, even cold – and may not appreciate the “new ideas” they bring to the bedroom.

The Washington Times recently completed a survey and found that one in six women watch online pornography. In 2006, Internet Filter Review released survey results that showed 17 percent of women say they struggle with porn addiction. They also reported that over 9 million women access porn each month, and some 17 per cent accessed porn at work. Some studies suggest that over 30 percent of visitors to porn sites are now women.

One of the reasons for this increase in women’s interest in porn is likely the ease of accessibility. Certainly women are not comfortable walking into a sex shop filled with men so they can browse the magazines and videos. Now they can browse all they want, anonymously.

Some studies also suggest that the more women use pornography, the more likely they will be victims of rape, just as other studies suggest a correlation for men: the more porn they watch, the more likely they are to commit rape.

On “Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew,” Kendra admits that she was molested from the age of 2 until she was finally emancipated at the age of 14, and that she was raped in her teens.

Dr. Drew says that most children who are sexually abused grow up to believe that their only worth is for sex and points to Kendra’s story as a prime example.

On the website she shares with her husband, www.meettherossis.com, Kendra tells of her struggle to climb up from a troubled childhood to the glamorous life of a Hollywood celebrity.

The oldest of five children, Kendra was born in East Hampton, Massachusetts and spent several years bouncing between her own less-than-ideal home and foster homes until she finally gained her emancipation at age 14. After that she took on the responsibility of raising her two much younger sisters. She entered the adult film industry in 1998 and quickly became a star and favorite of the Howard Stern Show.

During her intake interview, Kendra tells Dr. Drew that as a result of being molested and rape at such an early age she quickly came to believe that "sex equaled love." She confesses that she has cheated on everyone she has ever been in a relationship with and is now trying to get help for her addiction because she does not want to cheat on her husband.

The New York Post’s Martha Frankel writes that in 2008’s "Love Junkie," Resnick chronicles her compulsive love affairs and sexual adventures with men who abused and demeaned her at every turn.

When Resnick found herself 40 years old, broke, and childless, she decided to try to finally get to the root of the problem. She discovered that her mother was the original love junkie, leaving her kids alone at home when she went to bars, and bringing home one man after another.

Resnick recalls that when her mother took her along to a bar one afternoon, Resnick became restless and reminded her mother that they’d been there since school let out and that it was nearly six o’clock. “’I’m talking to someone right now,’ she hisses, her pale blue eyes narrowing. When she gets this drunk, her eyes turn into cold blue ice floes," Resnick writes.

Resnick’s father left Rachel and her mother and married a religious woman who eventually refused to let Resnick into her home, accusing her husband and his daughter of incest. "Batsheva was wrong," Resnick writes. "There was no incest. But there was a lot of confusion. Blurred boundaries. Acknowledgment of my sexuality, then rejection. Have an apple dipped in honey; you’re a filthy little girl."

Now Resnick’s memoir is being turned into a performance piece. On October 11th, members of the Antaeus Theatre Company, under the direction of Arye Gross, will present “Love Junkie, A Performance Piece” at Frank Pictures Gallery in Santa Monica, California. The evening will feature a dramatic re-telling of scenes from the book, followed by a Q and A with Resnick.

The paperback edition of her book debuted October 5th. Love Junkie has won praise from Vanity Fair, The NY Post, Cosmopolitan, The NY Observer, and The Guardian.

"Reading’ Love Junkie’ is like watching a sleepwalker taking a stroll on a freeway. All you can do is pray. Gorgeously written, piercingly honest," wrote Janet Fitch, author of "White Oleander."

Elizabeth Wurtzel, author of "Prozac Nation, "wrote of "Love Junkie": "A deeply true, wholly aching account of the dangerous way we live now…great fun to read and finally fully redemptive."

The roots of sexual addiction are often found in childhood neglect or abuse, whether it be physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual. One out of three women will experience some kind of sexual abuse before the age of 18, which makes them more vulnerable to sexual addiction or compulsivity.

Characteristics of sexual addiction include compulsive thoughts or behaviors, obsession with sex, continuing behaviors despite negative consequences, excessive flirting, having multiple or extramarital affairs, disregarding appropriate sexual boundaries, trading sex for drugs or other services, compulsive masturbation and/or use of pornography, engaging in anonymous sex or phone sex, and exhibitionism or voyeurism.

Besides the psychological impact of sexual addiction, the condition can also lead to unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, unemployment, divorce, and legal issues. In addition, if a woman suffering from sexual addiction has children, having multiple partners may increase her children’s risk of being abused.

If you think you or someone you know might have a problem with sexual addiction, it is imperative to seek professional help immediately. You can also take a self-test at the Sexual Recovery Institute.