# What is nymphomania? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 24, 2001, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379 "2001-10-24T20:30:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/1 "2001-10-24T20:30:04Z")
I know [the definition](http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=nymphomania), but I’m wondering if it’s just some old sexist jargon or another term for a legitimate medical condition. Because I think my damn roommate has it. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/2 "2001-10-24T20:34:32Z")
Well, since I appear to be first to reply, I will go with the obvious: Can I meet your roommate? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/3 "2001-10-24T20:38:21Z")
… An excuse. Why take any sort of personal responsibility if we can all have medical conditions? 🙂 (Not saying having sex is inherently irresponsible - but the people who claim to be nymphomaniacs feel enough guilt to need justification) ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/4 "2001-10-24T20:39:34Z")
I believe the polite PC term is “sexual addiction”, though that covers both males and females. Whether it’s a legitimate medical condition depends entirely on what rap you’re trying to beat and whether your expert witnesses are better than their expert witnesses. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/5 "2001-10-24T21:03:28Z")
There may not be a medical definition of “instatiable hose monster” but I think it’s like art or porn, you know it when you see it. In all seriousness I think it’s subjective but there can be a real psychological addition to sex. A _former_ friend seems to be at that stage. I discovered she was far more promiscuous than I could have imagined. She uses Yahoo clubs to seek out new anonymous sex partners. That’s one thing but when I found she was specifically looking for multiple anonymous men for unprotected sex (she’s in to barebacking) that was the last straw. I couldn’t stand to see her in such a self destructive spiral so I had to just walk away. Fortunately we were strictly platonic friends and I’m actually thankful for that. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/6 "2001-10-24T21:05:23Z")
It was once believed to be a legitimate medical condition. I think the story was that some women suffered from…how shall I put this…an itch in a very personal part of their anatomy that could only be “scratched” by having sex with a man. This is of course ridiculous. Women do not have sex because there is something wrong with their genitals. If your roommate is having sex more often than usual then she’s either really horny, trying to make her sexual partner(s) happy, or else she suffers from some sort of psychological problem. Given that she’s a young college student, my money is on option one. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/7 "2001-10-24T21:28:48Z")
There’s a discussion of compulsive sexual behaviors [here](http://www.psc.uc.edu/sh/SH_Compul_Sexual_Behav.htm). Nymphomania is mentioned as a historical name for a class of sexual disorders. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/8 "2001-10-24T21:33:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > \*\*In all seriousness I think it’s subjective but there can be a real psychological addition to sex. \*\* I think that more men than women could be classified as sex addicts. For men it is a constant need for sex to a destructive level. Example would be man with family that spends the money that should go for food and/or clothes on porn, prostitutes, etc. Not dissimilar to gambling or drug addiction. Just for them sex fills some void, perhaps in personal attention or love. Obviously this is way out of whack. > [@](#): > > \*\*That’s one thing but when I found she was specifically looking for multiple anonymous men for unprotected sex (she’s in to barebacking) that was the last straw. \*\* I knew a woman like this. For her the issue was that she desperately wanted to have a child, but could not conceive. I don’t know what physical condition prevented her from conception but it’s not inconceivable that it was all started by a sexually transmitted disease. **And an old joke:** A foursome was playing golf when suddenly a naked woman runs across the course, followed by two men in white coats, another man in a white coat carrying two buckets filled with sand, and an older man brings up the rear. One of the golfers shouts to the old man, “What’s this all about?” The old man replies, “We’re from the Psychiatric Hospital just up the way. That woman is a nymphomaniac and has escaped!” The golfer responds, “What’s with the buckets?” To which the old man says, “That’s his handicap, he caught her the last time!” ---
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/9 "2001-10-24T22:19:38Z")
Sounds like compulsive sexual behavior is a symptom of depression or some other problem. Hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![mancunian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mancunian/32/12244_2.png) [@mancunian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mancunian)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/10 "2001-10-24T22:29:45Z")
A nymphomaniac is a lady you should outta get to know better 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/11 "2001-10-29T20:28:03Z")
Yes, it would be cool if nymphomaniacs were merely extra-horny women. Unfortunately, it seems to be a miserable psychological, rather than physiological problem. As I understand it, the typical nympho has an obsession with finding Mr. Right (not just scratching an itch) and will go through numerous one-night-stands to find him. Most often they find the sex a big disappointment, and frantically resume the search for the next man they hope will make the earth move for them. I’ll see if I can find a cite. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/12 "2001-10-31T20:29:07Z")
Are you still there **MYRON**? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/13 "2001-10-31T22:37:47Z")
Neither nymphomania nor priapism ever live up to the expectations most men have for them when they first hear of them. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/14 "2001-10-31T23:52:55Z")
In general nymphomaniacs don’t get pleasure from sex. It’s a compulsive need that they must fulfil. Often it’s not a volume of sex per se that they need, but a specific quality. Guys, you would not want a nymphomaniac for a girlfriend. ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Earthworm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dirty\_Earthworm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Earthworm)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/15 "2001-11-01T00:05:31Z")
Gee handy, I wish I would have known that before I wasted a year-and-a-half of my life on a “recovered” nymphomaniac. But that’s a whole different thread… -Syko “My cat’s breath smells like cat food.” - Ralph Wiggum ("…and my ex-girlfriend’s breath smells like dick." - Syko) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/16 "2001-11-01T01:12:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Myron Van Horowitzski \* > \*\*Yes, it would be cool if nymphomaniacs were merely extra-horny women. Unfortunately, it seems to be a miserable psychological, rather than physiological problem. > > As I understand it, the typical nympho has an obsession with finding Mr. Right (not just scratching an itch) and will go through numerous one-night-stands to find him. > > Most often they find the sex a big disappointment, and frantically resume the search for the next man they hope will make the earth move for them. > > I’ll see if I can find a cite. \*\* This perfectly describes a girl I know, right down to the “finding Mr. Right” thing. I know for a fact she was with over 100 guys in one summer a few years back (sometimes several in one night) and there’s no reason for me to believe she hasn’t continued the trend. Let me just echo **handy** and say: guys, you would NOT want a nympho for a girlfriend. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nymphomania/89379/17 "2001-11-01T14:52:52Z")
& don’t ask me how I know that 🙂