According to the Program for the Study of Sexuality of the Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculty of Medicine, USP (University of São Paulo), about 7.7% of Brazilian women and 2.5% of men aged 18 to 80 consider themselves asexual. .

Asexuality is the complete, partial or conditional absence of sexual attraction to any person, regardless of biological sex or sex.

People who consider themselves asexual can have romantic relationships — Photo: Jasmine Carter/Pexels/Disclosure/ND

According to Claudia Petri, a sex education specialist at UFSC (Federal University of Santa Catarina), although asexuality is more common than one might think, it is not as popularized as, for example, homosexuality and bisexuality.

“This is understandable, since sexual orientation has many features, in addition to being less present in discussions about human sexuality,” he explains.

To dispel doubts, the sexologist cites nine myths and truths about orientation:

Asexuality is a choice

Myth: Some people may choose not to have sex, but they don’t choose not to want sex. It’s not about choice, it’s about sexual orientation.

Asexuals don’t have sex

Myth: It is generally accepted that asexuals do not experience sexual attraction or do not have sex. However, even if sex is optional, many find it a way to connect with partners, even to satisfy the desire of another.

Asexuality can be a physiological disorder

Myth: According to a study by the University of British Columbia in Canada, asexuals are able to experience an erection or, in the case of women, vaginal lubrication.

“They may even have sexual intercourse and experience orgasms, in addition to enjoying kisses and caresses,” Claudia emphasizes. There is also no dysfunction or hormonal disorder to justify a lack of sexual interest.

Can asexuals be romantically involved?

Truth: In addition to romantic relationships, they can meet and get married. Relationships are not only about sex, even between couples with different sexual needs.

“Asexuals experience sexuality differently, but they have the same emotional needs as people of other sexual orientations. In this case, the couple needs participation and dialogue to come to an agreement on what is acceptable and what is not,” he says.

There are subtypes of asexuality.

Truth: The main ones are strict asexuality (does not experience sexual attraction at any time); serosexual (feel attracted only under certain circumstances); asexual and semi-sexual (feel attracted when an affective connection is not formed); sapiosexual (feels attracted to the intellect of another); aromatic (can have sexual intercourse, but does not feel romantic attraction to other people); fluid asexual (it fluctuates between semi-sexual and gray-sexual. In other words, sexual desires alternate), among other things.

asexuals do not have children

Myth: The choice to have children or not does not depend on sexual orientation, since asexuals produce hormones and have sex and reproductive organs like everyone else. Therefore, asexuals can have children if they want to.

Asexual can be called asexual

Myth: Asexual is a term used to refer to the absence of sexual organs or, as defined in biology, reproduction that occurs without the participation of two sexes. Therefore, it has nothing to do with asexuality.

Asexuality has nothing to do with trauma or abuse

Truth: People who have experienced abuse or negative sexual experiences may continue to experience sexual desire, but fear may block them in some way.

“On the other hand, asexuality does not arise from trauma or from the fact that a person cannot find an ideal partner,” notes Claudia.

Asexuals are biased

Truth: Like other LGBTQIA+ people, asexuals face discrimination due to a lack of understanding of their sexual orientation. Non-recognition of the existence of this group can lead to depressive disorders and difficulties in socialization.

“Asexuality does not fit any pathology. Therefore, the best way to change this scenario is to get information and separate the image of an asexual from the image of a sick person or a person who is outside the sexual normative culture, ”concludes the sexologist.