New research on asexuality shows why it’s so important for doctors and therapists to distinguish between episodes of low libido and a consistent lack of sexual attraction
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Over the past two decades psychological studies have shown that asexuality should be classified not as a disorder but as a stable sexual orientation akin to homosexuality or heterosexuality. Both cultural awareness and clinical medicine have been slow to catch on. It’s only recently that academic researchers have begun to look at asexuality not as an indicator of health problems but as a legitimate, underexplored way of being human.
In biology, the word “asexual” typically gets used in reference to species that reproduce without sex, such as bacteria and aphids. But in some species that do require mating to have offspring, such as sheep and rodents, scientists have observed individuals that don’t appear driven to engage in the act.
It’s probably just an issue with oxytocin.
It does a lot of stuff, but what’s important here is it’s about social bonding. When it’s not functioning correctly, you just never get lonely, you don’t have the negatives from lack of social relationships including romantic.
Also, it’s what make orgasms feel amazing. So without it, your getting rid of the two main positives for sexual relationships.
You might still enjoy the act of sex, you just don’t get the huge addicting high at the end of it.
So it’s at most a “sure, why not” thing compared to everyone else. And for some people, it’s just not worth the hassle to varying degrees.
We also haven’t identified any genetic markers, but there’s likely some out there. And there’s environmental issues when young that can effect it your whole life.
So we barely understand the “nurture” component and no idea about the “nature” side of things.
Edit:
Rather than keep responding to the same comments, please just scroll down for more information before replying.
Incorrect. It’s not a disorder or dysfunction. It’s a sexual attraction type just like gay or straight, and I would appreciate some respect, instead of this archaic “you’re just sick”
As someone who is Asexual and been in relationships, I’ve still not had sexual attraction to my partners, and still had oxytocin highs.
Instead of getting offended and thinking it’s a binary thing and everyone is either asexual or not:
Remember that any time someone talks about hormones or neurotransmitters, there is no “right” just “average”.
And the most unique human on the planet would be the hypothetical person who is dead smack on the “average” for the 100s of different ones.
Pointing out what causes differences isn’t the same as saying we need to get everyone in the average.
Hell, the entire article is about asexual people wanting to know the “why”…
Did you even read it yet?
On the contrary, the article listed in the OP is about people experiencing medical discrimination due to a lack of awareness that asexuality can be a valid orientation. The asexual people quoted in their personal anecdotes about their medical care were reporting that medical and psychiatric professionals continually misdiagnosed or gave erroneous treatment based on assumptions around what “healthy” sexual desire looks like.
Essentially, imagine someone posted an article talking about how medical professionals are finally recognizing being gay isn’t a medical issue that needs to be “fixed”, and then you respond saying what the physiological causes of being gay could be. You’re getting kick back because it’s at best pretty tone deaf, no matter whether it’s backed up with evidence or not.
wow I didn’t know being Ace made me immune to lonliness I guess all those days where I felt the complete emptiness from having a lack of relationship was just me being goofy :p
I mean it’s generally bad form to attempt to explain why someone is of a particular orientation. You don’t say “well you’re only gay because you have trauma,” because that’s fucked up and overtly reductive of a key aspect of their personality.
I don’t experience sexual attraction. I still get horny. Orgasms feel great. I get lonely all the time, and still need social interaction. My experience is far from unique amongst asexual people. I don’t think it’s as simple as a single chemical imbalance.
At the same time, I am scientifically-minded, and understand that my mind arises as a product of the processes of my brain and body. I don’t disagree that hormones play as a factor in my orientation, but not everyone in the ace community shares that sentiment, and of course having your orientation chalked up to a specific medical or phychological “quirk” generally feels bad.
You’ve got to be careful how you’re referring to it. Asexual is not the same thing as aromantic. Confusing the two causes people to misunderstand both.
But neither are binary things… People can be asexual and/or aromantic in lots of different ways to various degrees.
And both are related to oxytocin. Either production or uptake, maybe both.
No two people are exactly the same.
Everyone is so hung up on labels, if this wasn’t a sub literally called c/science, I would have put all the disclaimers in there. But I assumed people on here wouldn’t need it, and understood this stuff is always a scale.
Its not a problem though
Sure…
Anytime you’re taking about neurotransmitters or hormones, there’s not really a “right” or “wrong”.
Just natural human variation. And there’s a shit ton of human variation.
They actually make oxytocin nasal spray now. But if someone is happy with who they are, it’s not like they have to take it. I don’t know of any studies where it’s used with asexuality though, I think just autism.
For some people (like all the ones in the article) they want it fixed. Others are perfectly happy the way they are, and both are fine and none of anyone else’s business