How they treated nymphomania in the Middle Ages

Main symptoms:

• Aggression
• Uncontrollable sex drive
• Inappropriate behavior
• Inability to concentrate on anything other than sex
• Lack of sexual culture
• Constant thoughts about sex
• Hysterical attacks
• Sexual obsession
• Casual sexual encounters
• Frequent dissatisfaction with sexual intercourse
• Frequent change of sexual partners
• Erotic fantasies during regular sexual activity

Nymphomania (andromania, Messalina complex) is a pathological process of a psychiatric nature in a girl, which is expressed in unbridled sexual attraction to partners of the opposite sex. It should be noted that such patients are not interested in excessively frequent sexual intercourse with the same partner - women have a need to change them frequently. In men, a disease of this nature also occurs, but under a different name - satyriasis. Thus, we can say that nymphomania and satyriasis are the same disease, but only in different sexes.

• Etiology
• Classification
• Symptoms
• Diagnostics
• Treatment

The clinical picture of such a pathological process is quite well expressed, the symptoms are specific and unambiguous, therefore, as a rule, there are no problems with making a diagnosis.

Some people mistakenly believe that nymphomania does not require specific treatment. In fact, attacks of this nature, as the problem worsens, can lead to serious consequences: a woman does not choose a sexual partner, often does not use contraceptive methods, which leads to infection with serious diseases, including HIV.

Often, signs of nymphomania occur in adolescents, which is even more dangerous than in adulthood. In a girl, this disease can be caused by an early onset of sexual activity or intimate psychological trauma.

To diagnose the nature of the pathological process, as well as to determine a method of how to get rid of nymphomania, you will need to consult several specialists. Treatment of nymphomania is only comprehensive - medications and psychiatric therapy are prescribed. It is impossible to say for sure whether such a disease can be cured completely or not. In this case, everything will depend on what exactly caused the violation and the degree of severity it occurs.

Nymphomania: what is it

The meaning of the word “nymphomania” (“nymph” - bride, “mania” - passion) is of ancient Greek origin and is associated with myths that describe nymphs who lure men into the forest to make love with them.

The world-famous nymphomaniacs Cleopatra (had a whole squad of young lovers, each of whom faced inevitable death after a night with the queen), Valeria Messalina (wife of Caesar Claudius, there is a medical term “Messalina complex”, a synonym for nymphomania), Catherine the Great.

According to statistics, there is one nymphomaniac for every 2,500 women. In hot countries, the incidence of the disease increases.

Causes of nymphomania

The basis of such a condition as nymphomania is the following physiological and psychological reasons:

Physiological:

• disruption of hypothalamic-pituitary regulation caused by neuroinfections (meningitis, encephalitis) or brain tumors;
• traumatic and vascular diseases of the central nervous system;
• ovarian tumors;
• hormonal imbalance.

Psychological:

• a unique way of self-affirmation for women with low self-esteem and self-doubt;
• hysterical personality traits;
• upbringing in childhood according to the type of hyperprotection, the habit that any craziest desire must be fulfilled;
• consequences of severe stress.

Nymphomania is often observed against the background of other mental disorders - psychopathy, neuroses, bipolar affective disorder (manic phase), schizophrenia (a variant of delirium), obsessive-compulsive disorder (a type of obsession).

Forms of nymphomania

There are 4 types of nymphomania:

• congenital – early sexual activity with promiscuity;
• acquired nymphomania – due to somatic or mental illness;
• menopause - as a result of a decrease in female sex hormones and resulting psychological problems;
• imaginary nymphomania is a way to feel like a woman in your own eyes.

Early nymphomania begins in adolescence, is most severe, and is often associated with psychological trauma.

During menopause, a woman’s debilitating sexual desire is associated with physiological hormonal changes. At this age, many husbands are not able to satisfy the irrepressible needs of their other half, women begin to look for relationships on the side or engage in masturbation, in rare cases in rural areas - bestiality (sexual relations with animals). Unmarried women experience deep disappointment about their failed lives and want to “take advantage of the last opportunity,” to feel all the pleasure of sex, going “in all seriousness.”

Treatment of nymphomania

To treat female and male nymphomania, psychotherapeutic sessions are successfully used, which are an addition to the main therapy. In cases where sexual disorder is caused by a lack of female hormones, drugs are prescribed that block the effects of androgens, for example, Andocur or Andocur Depot.

It is also necessary to additionally take a course of sedative medications. Specialists can prescribe antipsychotics and antidepressants. Herbs and homeopathy are used only as aids.

Nymphomania is treated on an outpatient basis. Hospitalization is needed only in cases where excessive sexual excitability is the result of manic-depressive psychosis, psychopathy or schizophrenia.

If a woman has nymphomania, how to deal with this disease? As mentioned above, it is necessary to seek help from a psychotherapist, who, using various methods, will try to point out to the lady the causes of her illness. And only after she admits that she has problems and understands the causes of the disease can treatment begin. So, you will need the help of a sexologist who can explain a lot to the woman (after all, we will be talking about increased libido).

Experts should teach a woman to competently concentrate on one partner. Their goal is also to remove the psychological barrier that most often prevents one from receiving true pleasure from a relationship with one partner.

If a woman has true nymphomania, how to deal with the disease in this case? Here the doctor will have to prescribe drugs that inhibit sexual desire. However, it is worth noting that this type of disease is quite difficult and lengthy to treat.

Clinic

Signs of nymphomania in women:

• impulsive uncontrolled actions;
• lack of satisfaction after sex;
• the ability to have long-term (up to an hour) and frequent (dozens of times per night) sexual intercourse;
• constant change of partners;
• overvalued thoughts about sex (impossible to get rid of them);
• sexual intercourse with several partners at the same time;
• except for the sexual side, nothing attracts a man in a man, there is no interest in him as a person;
• to achieve the goal, he does not disdain anything - he lies, manipulates, and can commit illegal actions;
• does not feel remorse for what he has done;
• does not think about and is not afraid of the consequences - sexually transmitted diseases, loss of family, job, answer to the justice authorities.

Signs of a phenomenon such as nymphomania depend on the etiology.

With hypothalamic syndrome, hypersexuality is unstable, in the form of attacks. Attacks are provoked by the mention of sex in conversation, the presence of men, objects or events that have nothing to do with the erotic component. The orgasm is prolonged, there is no satisfaction. The condition is accompanied by symptoms inherent in the syndrome - sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, hyperthermia.

Hypersexuality against the background of encephalitis is characterized by promiscuity and sexual disinhibition.

Possible reasons

Nymphomania is popularly called uterine rabies. But it is not so. Diseases of the uterus and other female genital organs are only one of the possible causes of the development of the deviation. There are many other factors that can influence the appearance of signs of the disease. Nymphomania in women can occur due to:

• hormonal disorders;
• diseases of the genital organs;
• nervous system disorders;
• neuroses and psychoses.

Any factor that causes the disease gradually affects the functioning of the hypothalamus. Rare but possible complications in the sexual sphere can even include diseases such as stroke, cancer and injuries.

The experience of violence can also become one of the decisive factors in the manifestation of the disease. The resulting mental trauma as a result of physical impact on the victim often leads to one of two consequences - nymphomania or fear of making love.

Nymphomania: negative aspects

Hypersexuality is characteristic of some women with a certain temperament, but this does not prevent them from leading a normal lifestyle - working, raising children, and doing housework. Nymphomania is characterized by the fact that a woman cannot think about anything other than sex, is unable to do business, and her character and behavior changes.

The negative aspects of the disease are physiological and social.

Physiological:

• the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases due to promiscuity;
• the danger of an infectious process caused by non-compliance with hygiene standards during intercourse.

Social:

Pathological attraction leads to pathological actions:

• a woman stops going to work, abandons her home and family, forgets about her children and her obligations;
• uncontrolled behavior can lead to irresponsible actions (in order to get another partner, a woman can give him jewelry, an apartment, a car, do whatever he orders), as a result, losing her family, home, job;
• in extreme cases, a nymphomaniac may commit theft, arson, murder, or other illegal actions and lose her freedom.

Is nymphomania only in women?4

Hypersexuality in men also occurs, but it is not called by this term. Hypersexual men are usually more dangerous to society. Many rapists admit under investigation that they are unable to control their libido. They consider anything as sexual provocation - from ordinary modern open clothing to loud laughter.

Men usually behave even more actively:

• Constantly in search;
• Register on several dating sites;
• Dating several women at the same time;
• They visit various “adult clubs” and use sex services;
• They engage in virtual sex and are ready to waste time endlessly watching adult films

They say that if a hypersexual man and a nymphomaniac meet, they will be happy. But it is not exactly. These types of people also have a desire to have sex with different partners.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of the disease is based on characteristic behavioral disorders and anamnestic data. If there is “pure nymphomania”, then the criteria are:

• absence of other mental disorders;
• pathological actions are repeated for 6 months;
• committing antisocial acts;
• the cause of deviant behavior is not alcohol and drugs;
• the patient is not aware of her behavior, is not aware of the consequences, and there is no criticism of her condition.

To establish the etiology, the following studies are carried out:

• MRI of the brain and ovaries, EEG to exclude organic processes;
• blood hormone levels (checking for hormonal imbalances);
• gynecological and endocrinological examination;
• blood tests, urine tests, genital swabs to check for infection.

Differential diagnosis

Such a phenomenon as nymphomania must be distinguished from other types of increased sexual desire:

1. Erotomania - fantasies, thoughts and conversations on a love topic. Activities are limited to watching erotic and pornographic films.
2. Love addiction is behavior similar to that of a nymphomaniac, but aimed at one specific man.
3. The desire and ability for multiple orgasms - a woman continues to control herself, is aware of what is happening, leads a normal lifestyle, and fulfills her duties as a wife and mother. A nymphomaniac is not able to live a normal life, she is obsessed with only one desire, all actions are aimed at satisfying a pathological need.
4. The painful experience of breaking up with a former partner, expressed in self-affirmation with new objects through sex.

Treatment of the disease

The first step to overcoming nymphomania is to admit it. If a person accepts the presence of the disease and turns to a specialist, then the course of therapy will be of better quality and the result will be effective. Treatment of the disease should be comprehensive, using antisymptomatic drugs, as well as psychiatry methods to overcome psychological dependence.

After the patient contacts the doctor, a diagnostic examination is carried out. It is based on the results of the following studies:

• brain tomography: necessary to identify or exclude tumor-like neoplasms;
• analysis for hormonal balance;
• analysis for sexually transmitted diseases (toxoplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, etc.).

Based on the results of the studies, the doctor can make a diagnosis and begin treatment. Depending on the possible causes of the disease, nymphomania therapy is used to eliminate the factors that provoke it. Treatment is carried out in a comprehensive manner. Consultation with a number of specialists is required.

• Psychotherapist. To combat sexual activity, the doctor may prescribe sedatives, as well as nootropic drugs and sleeping pills.
• Endocrinologist. Consultation with this doctor is necessary if there are signs of hormone imbalance.
• Nutritionist. A diet is needed that will help improve the condition of the sufferer and eliminate the consumption of natural aphrodisiacs.
• Venereologist. Due to the high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, the therapy prescribed by this doctor will help restore normal functioning of the genital organs. Antifungal drugs and anti-infectives can be used.

For nymphomania, it is not recommended to self-medicate, especially with folk remedies.

Treatment

Treatment of nymphomania, which manifests itself against the background of other diseases, begins with:

• psychotropic drugs to eliminate symptoms of mental disorders;
• antitumor drugs to reduce tumor processes of the ovaries or brain, if necessary, surgical removal of tumors;
• drugs that restore cerebral circulation in vascular pathology of the brain;
• antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs orally, topically and by injection to eliminate the infection.

At the same time, correction of nymphomania itself is carried out using sedatives and the main method - psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is aimed at making the patient aware of her illness, finding ways to overcome the disorder, and preventing possible consequences. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family psychotherapy and hypnosis are used.

CBT helps:

• eliminate triggers - factors that trigger pathological actions (watching porn films, some objects and events that are a trigger for a particular nymphomaniac). Triggers are either replaced by other thoughts and actions, or are prevented (the patient deliberately, through an effort of will, does not perform provoking actions);
• increase stress resistance;
• learn to control your emotions;
• increase self-esteem.

Hypnotherapy blocks pathological thoughts and desires on a subconscious level. The patient is taught a different program of action.

Family psychotherapy sessions are held with the patient’s family, during which close people are invited to look at the nymphomaniac from the outside and understand that pathological actions do not depend on her. Family members must realize that such behavior is a symptom of a disease that must be overcome together, providing all possible support and assistance.

Attitude towards nymphomaniacs

Society condemns the behavior of nymphomaniacs. They are often mistaken for promiscuous women of easy virtue. It never occurs to anyone that this could be a disease, the behavior is not controlled by the woman, it does not happen according to her will. In countries where religious dogmas (Puritan, Muslim) dominate, such women are openly despised and shunned. They are isolated from communication, they are not hired, their husbands get divorced, take their children away and forbid them to see them, and relatives turn away.

In the USA and Western countries, in recent years, rehabilitation centers have been organized for patients with desire disorders and other mental disorders, in which nymphomania occurs. The centers provide comprehensive medical, psychological, and social correction and rehabilitation with the participation of psychiatrists, medical psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers.

Author of the article: Veits Alina Emilievna, psychiatrist, candidate of psychological sciences