BALLS AND OVARIES: SEX ADDICTION OR NATURAL INSTINCT?

Read an article that first appeared in THE ORLANDO SENTINEL (January 2010), “Is there such a thing as sex addiction?” written by Linda Shrieves. The come-on was Tiger Woods, including his photo, and the article appeared to report both sides of the this issue of diagnosis: Ms. Shrieves reports that Dr. Alan Grieco (psychologist) believes it to be “natural,” with different degrees of desire, while Patrick Carnes, therapist – whose staff is allegedly treating Woods – believes one can be afflicted by “sexual addiction,” a disease.

Quite obviously, however, the author, a woman, believes the latter, despite the notion that journalists report news items in an unbiased way: She writes without equivocation: “While some addicts are women, men are three times more likely to fall into that category.” In other words, the author “answers” the question posed, but the answer is her own opinion, which is not backed by anything else. Thus this opinion article belongs, if anywhere, on the “Op Ed” page.

My own intent with this blog is not to provide an exhaustive treatise on sexual desire. But I will note that “sexual desire”, without a doubt, is a true instinct that is still to be found in a human, any human. Humans do not have many true instincts, as do other animals. Other animals function almost entirely on instincts. Or, so we humans think, despite our tendency to anthropomorphize everything – even inanimate objects.

These days the number of “diseases” increases in a short time geometrically – especially “mental diseases.” Now we have added the disease of “Sexual Addiction.” I can just imagine what Dr. Szasz, a psychiatrist, must think about this “disease.” (If you are not familiar with Dr. Szasz, “google” him.)

There is no question that “sexual desire” varies among men, and in some it does appear especially marked. And, some women exhibit a phenomenon known for years as “nymphomania.” But are these really diseases?

It seems the “modern” way to find an excuse for most everything. Now if a man acts like a rabbit “jumping from hole to hole” it isn’t really his fault – it’s a disease! He can’t help it. So, is the young female teacher who seduces her 15 year-old student (reported more and more these days) a criminal? Or, does she just have a “disease” and can’t really help it?

Taking responsibility for one’s behavior is experienced less and less these days.

I hesitate, even as a physician, to intuit in writing what the average woman – before or after menopause – thinks about sexual desire, but I can, with comfort, say that men “think about sex” all of their lives, even when, for reasons of age or something else, cannot do anything about it – despite “Viagra,” “Cialis,” et cetera !

Dallas Tuthill, M.D.