Self-Test for Men

These questions are adapted from a variety of sources and draw heavily on the self-test developed by Sexaholics Anonymous.

If you wonder if you may need help, you probably do. If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you could benefit from the Bethesda Healing for Women Workshop, either to address a full-blown problem or to prevent one from developing.

The Male Sexual Addiction Screening Test (G-SAST) is designed as a preliminary assessment screening for sexually compulsive or addictive behavior.  The G-SAST provides a profile of responses which frequently help to identify men with sexual impulse disorders. To complete the test, answer each question by clicking either “yes” or “no”.

This test will take approximately 5 minutes.

1. Were you sexually abused as a child or adolescent?

2. Have you subscribed or regularly purchased/rented sexually explicit magazines or videos?

3. Did your parents have trouble with their sexual or romantic behaviors?

4. Do you often find yourself preoccupied with sexual thoughts?

5. Has your use of phone sex lines, computer sex lines, etc. exceeded your ability to pay for these services?

6. Does your significant other(s), friends, or family ever worry or complain about your sexual behavior? (not related to sexual orientation)

7. Do you have trouble stopping your sexual behavior when you know it is inappropriate and/or dangerous to your health?

8. Has your involvement with pornography, phone sex, computer board sex, etc. become greater than your intimate contacts with romantic partners?

9. Do you keep the extent or nature of your sexual activities hidden from your friends and/or partners? (not related to sexual orientation)

10. Do you look forward to events with friends or family being over so that you can go out to have sex?

11. Do you visit sexual bath houses, sex clubs and/or video bookstores as a regular part of your sexual activity?

12. Do you believe that anonymous or casual sex has kept you from having more long-term intimate relationships or from reaching other personal goals?

13. Do you have trouble maintaining intimate relationships once the “sexual newness” of the person has worn off?

14. Do your sexual encounters place you in danger of arrest for lewd conduct or public indecency?

15. Are you HIV positive, yet continue to engage in risky or unsafe sexual behavior?

16. Has anyone ever been hurt emotionally by events related to your sexual behavior, e.g., lying to partner or friends, not showing up for event/appointment due to sexual liaisons, etc.?  (not related to sexual orientation)

17. Have you ever been approached charged, arrested by the police, security, etc. due to sexual activity in a public place?

18. Have you ever been sexual with a minor?

19. When you have sex, do you feel depressed afterwards?

20. Have you made repeated promises to yourself to change some form of your sexual activity only to break them later? (not related to sexual orientation)

21. Have your sexual activities interfered with some aspect of your professional or personal life, e.g., unable to perform at work, loss of relationship?  (not related to sexual orientation)

22. Have you engaged in unsafe or “risky” sexual practices even though you knew it could cause you harm?

23. Have you ever paid for sex?

24. Have you ever had sex with someone just because you were feeling aroused and later felt ashamed or regretted it?

25. Have you ever cruised public restrooms, rest areas and/or parks looking for sexual encounters with strangers?

After you’ve answered all the questions, add the numbers you selected for each response to obtain a final score.  Here’s a general scale to help measure your score:

Remember that no self-test can absolutely and accurately determine the nature of your problem, or the solution.  Please use it as a marker to help guide you along your own path.  This is simply a screening device that can be helpful in deciding whether you need help or not.

Feelings of concern, shame or fear created by answering these questions may indicate the need to contact a professional for guidance.  Checking off several items usually indicates a need to address these issues.

1-3

1-3 of these symptoms found to be true may be an area of concern.  You may want to consider openly discussing this with a friend or family member.

3-10

Consultation with a professional can be helpful in deciding if you have a sexual addiction problem.  Based on your responses, you may benefit by seeking help from appropriate resources such as a professional knowledgeable about addiction and addiction-related issues or a 12 Step program such as Sex Addicts Anonymous, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, or Sexual Compulsives Anonymous.

10-13

Scoring within this range may mean that you have done some things you regret or it may mean that you are in early stage addiction.  Based on your responses, you would benefit by seeking help from appropriate resources such as a professional knowledgeable about addiction and addiction-related issues or a 12 Step program such as Sex Addicts Anonymous, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, or Sexual Compulsives Anonymous.

>13

If you scored over 13 points your answers parallel other sex addicts.  A high score indicates issues of sexual addiction and a need to further explore this area with a professional clinician. You might also want to look into a 12 Step program such as Sex Addicts Anonymous, Sex

Developed by:  Patrick Carnes, PhD & Robert Weiss, LCSW, CAS

Self-Test for Women

1. Have you ever thought you needed help for your sexual behavior or thinking?

2. Have you ever tried to stop or limit what you felt was wrong in your sexual or relationship behavior?

3. Do you use sex to escape, relieve anxiety, or as a coping mechanism?

4. Do you feel guilt, remorse, or depression afterward?

5. Has your pursuit of sex or a particular relationship become more compulsive?

6. Does it interfere with relations with your spouse?

7. Do you have to resort to fantasies or memories during sex in order to be aroused or satisfied?

8. Do you keep going from one relationship or lover to another?

9. Do you feel the right person would help you stop lusting, masturbating, or being so promiscuous?

10. Do you have a destructive need – a desperate sexual or emotional need for someone?

11. Does the pursuit of sex or a relationship make you careless for yourself or the welfare of your family or others?

12. Has your effectiveness or concentration decreased as sex or a relationship has become more compulsive?

13. Have you experienced negative consequences as a result of your sexual or relational behavior?

14. Are you depressed?

15. Were you sexually abused as a child or adolescent?