When we think of people who are addicted to sex, usually images of men are visualized in most people’s minds. However, research has found that women can just as easily engage in similar compulsive and “harmful” behaviour. The new study traces the relationship between risky sexual behavior and hypersexuality in women, which is defined by intense sexual fantasies, impulses, or sexual behavior that results in significant distress or deterioration in social and professional life. For the purpose of the study, 988 women, most of them around 25 years old, took part in an online survey. They have to rate the frequency of some of the given situations regarding their sex life from “never” to “very often”. The situations are like: “When I do something sexual, I feel less alone” or “My thoughts and fantasies about sex distract me from doing important tasks.” There are also questions about masturbation, sex, and pornography-related habits. They help researchers distinguish between normal sexual fluctuations and compulsive behavior. The answers to all the questions are then analyzed as experts examine the relationship between patterns of sexual behavior, sexual risk behavior and the diagnostic definition of hypersexuality. Contrary to previous studies of hypersexuality in women, which found females to be more passive, the results of the present study indicated that hypersexual females masturbated more often, had more sexual partners, and accessed pornography more often, compared with hypersexual men. NEWS_MORE_BOX This is associated with risky sexual behavior that can be dangerous in terms of safety and sexual health. Dispelling some myths related to female sexuality and understanding these issues can contribute to more effective treatment. The study data was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.