Why Do I Experience Sexual Attraction To Nonliving Objects Or Nongenital Body Parts?

Over a period of at least 6 months, did you experience recurrent and intense sexual arousal from either the use of nonliving objects or a highly specific focus on nongenital body part(s), as manifested by fantasies, urges, or behaviors?

Do the fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning?

Are the fetish objects not limited to articles of clothing used in cross-dressing (as in transvestic disorder) or devices specifically designed for the purpose of tactile genital stimulation (e.g., vibrator)?

It is common for people to find a particular nongenital bodily feature attractive. This means that some level of fetishism is part of human sexuality. However, fetishism may become a problem when it impairs normal sexual or social functioning. Fetishistic disorder is characterized as an intense sexual attraction to either inanimate objects or to nongenital body parts, which results in significant impairment. While it is unlikely that you have fetishistic disorder, you may be displaying a sign related to it. It may be useful to plan a visit to your doctor. If you did not answer ‘Yes’ to any of the questions, it is very unlikely that you have fetishistic disorder.

Based on your answers, you may be displaying some signs related to a condition called ‘fetishistic disorder’. It may be important to discuss your symptoms with a medical health provider. Fetishistic fantasies are normal, however if they cause impairment in functioning it may be treated as a disorder. If someone has an intense sexual attraction to inanimate objects or body parts that are usually not considered sexual, but does not report distress or impairment, the person would be considered to have a fetish but not a fetishistic disorder. Objects usually include underwear, footwear, leather clothing, and gloves. Body parts include feet, toes, and hair.

Unfortunately, you are displaying the symptoms typically seen among individuals who have fetishistic disorder. It may be essential to seek medical help for your symptoms. The disorder is characterized by an intense sexual attraction to inanimate objects or to body parts that normally would not be viewed as sexual and causing significant impairment in functioning. Therapies may include a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Medications may help to reduce compulsive thinking or to temporarily reduce testosterone levels (and therefore, sex drive). Psychotherapy may include cognitive behavioral models, in which the goal is to associate the deviant behavior with a negative, visualized event.