What is Asexuality? – healthmag.gr

Asexuality is the sexual orientation in which one experiences little or no sexual attraction to others. They may also have little or no desire to have sex, in general. That being said, every asexual person is different in how they approach sexual intimacy.

For example, some people experience romantic attraction but no desire for sexual intimacy, and some may want to have sex or masturbate but not be fully attracted to others. Also, some may be sexually involved with others or with themselves, but may not feel pleasure when doing so. These are just a few examples.

Asexuality is not considered the same as abstaining from sex for religious or philosophical reasons. In such cases, sexual attraction may occur, but it is simply not acted upon.

Is Asexuality Considered a Choice?

There are two main philosophies about it asexuality. The first is that it is a sexual orientation in the same way that heterosexuality and homosexuality are orientations. The LGBTQ+ community recognizes her asexuality as its own orientation.

The second philosophy is that someone is experiencing a physiological abnormality, such as low libido or Hyposexual Desire Disorder (HSDD).

Ultimately, there’s a lot we don’t know about what causes someone to be asexual, and it’s always best practice to respect anyone’s sexual identity.

How to find out if you are asexual

Sometimes a person’s asexuality is not immediately apparent to themselves. This is partly because it is not as widely discussed as heterosexuality or homosexuality, and so there is a lack of understanding around the topic. Some don’t even realize that asexuality exists as a sexual orientation.

Furthermore, in the same way that it may take time to recognize that they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, a person may need careful introspection before recognizing their own asexuality.

To determine whether or not you may be asexual, consider whether you have experienced any of the following:

• You can see others as attractive, but rarely (if ever) experience sexual attraction to them
• You have little or no desire to engage in sexual contact with others, including your romantic partner
• You have little to no desire to masturbate
• You engage in sexual intimacy, but you don’t enjoy it
• You engage in sexual intimacy, but rarely initiate it
• You rarely think about sex
• You don’t find sexual intimacy – or even the thought of it – exciting, interesting or important
• You have little to no desire to even get involved in a romantic relationship
• You have felt a combination of any of the above for a continuous period of time, perhaps since adolescence

How to Explain Your Asexuality

You don’t owe an explanation for your sexual orientation to anyone. But there are times when you may feel compelled to talk to someone about your sexuality. For example, you may feel like discussing your sexual orientation in a romantic relationship, with your closest friends, or with family members. If you wish to explain your asexuality to someone, the best approach is to be honest, especially since many are not very familiar with the term.

Explain exactly what you feel and what you don’t feel. If you’re talking to a romantic partner, be clear about how it might affect your sexual relationship. Every asexual person is different. It’s helpful to think of asexuality as a spectrum and consider whether you fall somewhere on that spectrum, rather than fitting a precise definition.