Sex Addiction Test: 10 Questions to Find Out if You Need Support

Sexual thoughts and activities are a normal part of human experience. But for some, sexual behavior can become compulsive, unmanageable, and lead to serious consequences. If you’re wondering whether your sexual behavior is becoming problematic, the sex addiction test is a helpful first step toward clarity.

Disclaimer: This tool is not a diagnosis. It is intended to raise awareness and encourage self-reflection. If you’re concerned about your results, speak with a qualified mental health professional or healthcare provider.

Why Take a Sex Addiction Self-Assessment?

Sexual addiction, also known as compulsive sexual behavior or hypersexual disorder, can be difficult to identify, especially in a culture where online pornography, casual sex, and sexting are widely accepted.

Taking a self-assessment like the SAST-R (revised version) can help you:

• Understand if your sexual behavior has become compulsive or impulsive
  
• Recognize patterns such as cravings, preoccupation, or acting out despite negative consequences
  
• Explore how your behaviors impact intimate relationships, self-esteem, and daily life
  
• Decide if further evaluation, therapy, or treatment might be helpful
  

This isn’t about judgment. It’s about awareness. The test offers a starting point to reflect on whether your sexual desires or behaviors are interfering with your health and well-being.

Signs of Sex Addiction and Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Everyone’s sexual desire varies. But when sexual urges start to feel out of control or harmful, it may signal a deeper issue.

Common signs of sexual addiction include:

• Spending excessive time planning, pursuing, or recovering from sexual activities
  
• Repeated attempts to stop or control sexual behavior, with little success
  
• Engaging in risky or unsafe behaviors, such as anonymous sex or frequenting strip clubs or sex workers
  
• Escalating patterns, such as needing more extreme sexual experiences to achieve the same effect
  
• Neglecting responsibilities, work, or relationships due to preoccupation with sex
  
• Feeling guilt, shame, or distress after sexual activity
  
• Persistent cravings or urges to engage in sexual behavior, even when it causes harm
  

These symptoms often mirror patterns found in other addictive disorders, including loss of control, compulsive acting out, and negative consequences.

What Does the Assessment Measure?

The Sex Addiction Test assesses behaviors, attitudes, and consequences related to problematic sexual behavior.

Sample areas assessed in the questionnaire include:

• Use of online pornography or cybersex
  
• Frequency of masturbation or sexual fantasies
  
• Difficulty maintaining intimate relationships
  
• Secrecy or dishonesty around sexual behavior
  
• Patterns of acting out in response to stress or trauma
  
• Use of sex to manage emotions, avoid problems, or seek validation
  

This assessment is not a diagnostic tool, but a red flag system. If your score is high, it may suggest a need for further evaluation by a healthcare provider trained in sexual health or psychiatry.

What If You Score High on a Sex Addiction Test?

A high score on a sex addiction screening test can feel overwhelming, but it isn’t a verdict. It’s a cue to pause, reflect, and consider what support might help you regain balance.

Here’s what you can do next:

1. Talk to a licensed mental health professional, ideally someone trained in addictive behaviors, trauma, or impulse control.
   
2. Explore treatment centers that specialize in sexual addiction, including outpatient or inpatient options.
   
3. Join a support group, such as Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA), or SMART Recovery.
   
4. Consider co-occurring issues like love addiction, depression, trauma, or ADHD, which may contribute to compulsive sexual behavior.
   
5. Get medically evaluated if you’re experiencing distress, mental health issues, or if the behaviors have led to legal or relational consequences.
   

Healing is not about eliminating sexual desire; it’s about restoring healthy, intentional behavior grounded in consent, connection, and respect.

Who Should Take a Sex Addiction Test?

Not everyone who engages in frequent sexual activity has an addiction. But you may benefit from taking a self-test if:

• You feel out of control around sexual urges or behaviors
  
• You’ve experienced relationship conflicts, job issues, or emotional distress related to sex
  
• You’ve tried and failed to reduce or stop certain sexual behaviors
  
• You rely on sex to escape feelings of loneliness, anger, or low self-worth
  
• You’re concerned about your use of pornography, cybersex, or casual encounters
  

If any of this resonates, the test can offer a roadmap for what comes next.

How Is Sex Addiction Diagnosed?

Currently, “sex addiction” is not formally recognized as a standalone disorder in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). However, clinicians may diagnose related conditions such as:

• Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD), recognized by the World Health Organization
  
• Impulse control disorders
  
• Hypersexual behavior, noted in some psychiatric evaluations
  

A mental health professional may use a combination of:

• Clinical interviews
  
• Self-report questionnaires like the SAST or CSAT (Compulsive Sexual Behavior Assessment Tool)
  
• Evaluation of co-occurring conditions (e.g., depression, trauma, anxiety)
  

While the language and labels may differ, the goal is always the same: relief from suffering and a return to healthy functioning.

When Sexual Behavior Harms Mental Health

Unchecked compulsive sexual behavior can lead to serious consequences—emotionally, relationally, and legally. Some examples include:

• Breakdown of trust in intimate relationships
  
• Increased shame, secrecy, or double life
  
• Health risks due to unsafe sex practices
  
• Financial or legal problems, particularly related to pornography or sex work
  
• Loss of meaning or self-worth, especially when sex becomes a coping mechanism
  

Treatment is not just about abstinence—it’s about learning new ways to cope, connect, and care for yourself without relying on destructive patterns.

What the Sex Addiction Test Can and Cannot Do

What it can do:

• Offer insight into your current sexual behaviors and patterns
  
• Identify signs that may point toward a larger issue
  
• Motivate you to seek help or further evaluation
  

What it cannot do:

• Provide a medical or psychiatric diagnosis
  
• Account for personal history, trauma, or cultural influences
  
• Replace a conversation with a qualified mental health professional
  

Self-assessments are helpful tools, but they’re most powerful when paired with care and support.

Sexual behavior becomes problematic when it begins to interfere with your ability to live a connected, balanced, and healthy life. If you’re questioning whether your urges or habits feel out of control, the sex addiction test can be the first step toward awareness and healing.

You are more than your cravings, more than your behaviors. Recovery is possible and there are compassionate professionals and communities ready to help you reclaim control, rebuild relationships, and redefine what intimacy means to you.

Resources and Next Steps

• Sex addiction treatment centers near you
• Porn Addiction: 9 Signs and How It Impacts Your Well-Being
• Does Couples Counseling Work? 7 Proven Benefits When Both Partners Commit
  

External Resources:

• International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP)
  
• Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA)
  
• SMART Recovery for Problematic Sexual Behavior
  
• National Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA)