Why Am I Sexually Attracted To Children?

Over a period of at least 6 months, did you experience recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger)?

Have you acted on these sexual urges, or do the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty?

Are you at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in question 1? Note: Not applicable to an individual in late adolescence involved in an ongoing sexual relationship with a 12- or 13-year-old.

Based on your answers, you may be (sexually) attracted to children as an adult. Pedophilia can be described as recurrent and intense sexual urges, behaviors, or fantasies in which a child of 13 years or younger is involved, over a period of at least six months. While it is unlikely that you will be diagnosed with pedophilic disorder, you may be displaying a sign related to it. You may have a pedophilic sexual orientation, not a disorder. In case you did not answer ‘Yes’ to any of the questions, it is very unlikely that you have pedophilic disorder. Either way, if you feel sexually attracted to children, it is very important to seek medical help.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs related to pedophilic disorder. It may be important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. To be diagnosed with the condition, you must either act on your sexual urges or the urges/fantasies must cause significant impairment. If these two criteria are not present, you may have a pedophilic sexual orientation but not a disorder. Either way you must seek medical help. Pedophilic activities may include touching a child or watching it undressing, oral sex, or touching the genitals of the child or the offender.

Unfortunately, you are displaying the symptoms typically seen among individuals who have pedophilic disorder. Seeking medical help is essential. Cognitive behavioral treatment is an effective method for people who suffer from pedophilic disorder. Cognitive behavioral treatment may include building victim empathy, in which videos are showed of consequences to victims and in which the offender is taught to understand the harm they are causing. Social skills training, confrontation of cognitive distortions (correction of thoughts), and surveillance systems are also effective cognitive behavioral methods. Medications can be prescribed to lower sex drive.