Unenjoyable sex

I was interested by Linda Vergnani's article on nymphomania ("'Uterine fury' - now sold in chemists", THES, May 9). However, the clinical literature on nymphomania indicates that, contrary to popular belief, it is not very enjoyable, that orgasm is rarely achieved and that it is characterised by a dislike of foreplay.

Furthermore, it is often related to states of mania and hypomania. Historically, far more has been written about nymphomania in negative terms than about male forms of the disorder probably because of the sexual double standard. An evaluation of the pre-1980s literature would have us believe there are far more female "sex addicts" than male ones.

In reality, female sex addiction is quite rare: it is males who are far more likely to be addicted to sex.

Mark Griffiths
Nottingham Trent University