Some indications that you may be struggling with compulsive sexual behavior include:

• You have recurrent and intense sexual fantasies, urges and behaviors that take up a lot of your time and feel as if they're beyond your control.
• You feel driven to do certain sexual behaviors, feel a release of the tension afterward, but also feel guilt or remorse.
• You've tried unsuccessfully to reduce or control your sexual fantasies, urges or behavior.
• You use compulsive sexual behavior as an escape from other problems, such as loneliness, depression, anxiety or stress.
• You continue to engage in sexual behaviors that have serious consequences, such as the potential for getting or giving someone else a sexually transmitted infection, the loss of important relationships, trouble at work, financial strain, or legal problems.

You have trouble establishing and maintaining healthy and stable relationships.

Although the causes of compulsive sexual behavior are unclear, they may include:

• An imbalance of natural brain chemicals. Certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine help regulate your mood. High levels may be related to compulsive sexual behavior.
• Changes in brain pathways. Compulsive sexual behavior may be an addiction that, over time, might cause changes in the brain's neural circuits, especially in the reinforcement centers of the brain. Like other addictions, more-intensive sexual content and stimulation are typically required over time in order to gain satisfaction or relief.
• Conditions that affect the brain. Certain diseases or health problems, such as epilepsy and dementia, may cause damage to parts of the brain that affect sexual behavior. In addition, treatment of Parkinson's disease with some dopamine agonist medications may cause compulsive sexual behavior.

Compulsive sexual behavior can occur in both men and women, though it may be more common in men. It can also affect anyone, regardless of sexual orientation. Factors that may increase risk of compulsive sexual behavior include:

• Ease of access to sexual content. Advances in technology and social media allow access to increasingly intensive sexual imagery and information.
• Privacy. Secrecy and privacy of compulsive sexual activities tend to allow these problems to worsen over time.

Also, an increased risk of compulsive sexual behavior may occur in people who have:

• Alcohol or drug abuse problems
• Another mental health condition, such as a mood disorder (such as depression or anxiety), or a gambling addiction
• Family conflicts or family members with problems such as addiction
• A history of physical or sexual abuse

Compulsive sexual behavior can have many negative consequences that affect both you and others. You may:

• Struggle with feelings of guilt, shame and low self-esteem
• Develop other mental health conditions, such as depression, suicide, severe distress and anxiety
• Neglect or lie to your partner and family, harming or destroying meaningful relationships
• Lose your focus or engage in sexual activity or search internet pornography at work, risking your job
• Accumulate financial debts buying pornography and sexual services
• Contract HIV, hepatitis or another sexually transmitted infection or pass a sexually transmitted infection to someone else
• Engage in unhealthy substance use, such as using recreational drugs or drinking excessive alcohol
• Be arrested for sexual offenses