This helps explain why some sex addicts participate in painful or masochistic sex. If their original experiences are fearful experiences, then for sex to work for them as an adult, it has to be fearful. For example, the only way one patient could be orgasmic was if pain was involved. Her genitals had to be hurting for her to even masturbate. Women and men often exhibit sexual addiction in different ways.
Men tend to choose things that are more objectifying of women.
So there s a real difference, Carnes explains. That s not to say I don t get women in here with tremendous pornography collections. Maureen Canning-Fulton counsels sex addicts in Glendale. For women, she says, the signs are usually much more covert and hidden. For men, you ve got prostitution, pornography and those kinds of things, which are pretty overt, she says.