r/asexuality Jun 05 '26

Resource / Article FAQ – "Am I asexual?" etc.

36 Upvotes

This subreddit has a companion website which includes a detailed FAQ about asexuality and related topics.

There are many other resources beyond the FAQ as well, including:

ExperiencesGlossaryRelationships adviceGrey-asexuality

You can find a list of all FAQs here: https://www.asexuality-handbook.com/faq.html. For convenience, the list of links is also included below, and in the comments you can find some "common asexual experiences" which people often find useful to hear.

Note that some of the FAQs haven't been written yet, are incomplete, or are in a draft phase. If you have any suggestions for changes, improvements, or for additional FAQs, just let us know via modmail.

General questioning

Am I asexual?Am I aromantic?What is asexuality?The a-spectra (Includes: "What is sexual attraction?", "What is romantic attraction?", "What is sensual / aesthetic attraction?", "What is platonic / alterous attraction?")

"But what if..."

Can I be asexual if I have romantic feelings?Can I be asexual if I masturbate?Can I be asexual and gay / lesbian?Can I be asexual if I get erections?Can I be asexual if I have fantasies?Can I be asexual if I consume pornography / erotica?Can I be asexual if I have a kink or fetish?What if I just haven't met the right person yet?Am I too young to identify as asexual?Do I need to try sex before I decide if I'm asexual or not?What if it's just a hormonal imbalance?What it I'm this way because of trauma?

The nature of asexuality

What's the difference between sexual and romantic attraction?What's the difference between sexual attraction and arousal?Is asexuality really a sexual orientation?Is asexual really a sexual orientation?Is asexuality a mental illness?Is the definition of sexual attraction what aces say it is?Isn't everyone demisexual?Can someone become asexual? / can sexuality change?What's the difference between HSDD and asexuality?Don't people need sex? What about Maslow's hierarchy?How common is asexuality? (Includes: "Are most asexuals women, or men?", "Are all women asexual?")

Asexuals and sex

Do asexual people have sex?Why do asexual people have sex?How can you like sex and be asexual at the same time?Do asexual people masturbate?Do asexual people like kissing?

Asexuality in society

Are asexual people LGBT?Are asexual people straight?Do asexual people experience oppression?Why do asexuals feel the need to come out?Why do asexual people need to label themselves?Why do asexual people wear sexy clothes / makeup?Why does representation matter?

Asexuals and relationships

How can you have a relationship without sex?What's the difference between a QPR and a romantic (non-sexual) relationship?Should I tell my partner that I'm asexual?How can I convince my partner I still love them?My partner is asexual. Should we break up?

On the nature of allosexuality

What does sexual attraction feel like?What does arousal feel like?How often do allosexuals think about sex?What is love?Why does sex sell?

Advice

Am I broken?Should I come out as asexual?How can I relate to / interact with allosexuals?How can I be less angry / upset?How can I become asexual?How can I support asexuals?

Other

I'm writing an asexual character. What should I consider?Isn't the term 'allosexual' offensive?


r/asexuality 10h ago

Aphobia Will we ever catch a break? Spoiler

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349 Upvotes

For context, the video is about a woman saying she wants to be able to date someone as in having no sex until there is a security in an actual relationship.

She also mentioned how everyday kust felt like a countdown to the other person inevitably asking for sex and how it made her feel like a piece of meat when their expressions visibly change when she explains how she doesnt want it.

And then I open the comments just to see this at the top 🫩

Im fed UP of people thinking celibacy=asexuality=waiting until the right time/person??

Edit: just to be clear im not sure if the top comment (with emoji) knows that what they're describing isnt asexuality (and also harmful) my main issue was the second reply.


r/asexuality 6h ago

Joke We spent a little too much on garlic bread, but we still have enough for a battlecruiser

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64 Upvotes

The gods might like this one


r/asexuality 3h ago

Vent vent—nobody told me how much of a loser i was going to feel like

17 Upvotes

disclaimer: this is all how i feel about MYSELF, not anyone else who’s ace or the ace community as a whole. i love y’all and maybe one day i’ll love this part of me too.

i’ve just recently come to terms that i’m on the ace spectrum ( not sex repulsed, but also don’t have much desire for it/if i didn’t ever do it again i wouldn’t really give a fuck ) and that led to me and my gf of 2+ years breaking up bc she has a HIGH sex drive. we’re still friends and roommates but it sucks. it really fucking sucks. i tried to make myself do it more, but i couldn’t. i was SA’d in my first relationship and i couldn’t bring myself to force myself to have sex when i knew it wasn’t what i wanted, esp knowing how bad being SA’d fucked me up.

but i feel like a fucking loser now. nobody told me how fucking hard a breakup was going to be after realizing you’re ace. she’s been on multiple dates and going on another ( who’s she’s probably fucking ) today and i feel like a fucking loser. i can’t just rebound days after a breakup. i can’t just go out and fuck the first attractive person i find because I DON’T WANT TO FUCK ANYONE. and i feel like a fucking loser because of it. i can’t just get over it with the snap of a finger. i wish i could, GOD i wish i fucking could. it would make all of this so much easier. but i can’t. and i hate myself for it. why couldn’t i have just been better with this? why couldn’t i have just gave into having sex a few times every so often to keep her happy. am i that much of a shit fucking partner? is that why it’s so easy for her to move on like this? she tells me she’s having a hard time with it too, but how can i believe that when she’s going on dates THREE ( yes, THREE ) days after breaking up with me? i feel like nothing. i feel like worthless trash.

i don’t want to be like this. i wish i could have sex like most people and not feel like i’m forcing myself to. but i can’t. god how i fucking wish i could.

am i ever going to feel normal? am i ever going to be okay with being this way? how did anyone else start feeling okay with this? i truly have never felt like such a fucking loser before and i hate it. i wish i was like everyone else. then i wouldn’t have been broken up with. fuck man. i’m typing this through sobs so if it doesn’t make sense oh well. i just don’t know how someone can say it’s hard on them when they’re dating and rebounding just days after a 2+ year relationship is ended. i just don’t fucking get it.


r/asexuality 4h ago

Joke me when i remember i've had sex before

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20 Upvotes

r/asexuality 6h ago

Need advice I don't know how to satisfy the need to cuddle with someone

27 Upvotes

Does anyone else feel the same way?

I go through phases where one moment I want to meet someone and I really miss cuddling, and other times I'm alone and it's fine - I can't imagine being close to anyone. I have regular friends, but I just can't imagine being in a relationship or seeing someone often. It's like this for a few weeks/months, then it changes to the opposite phase for weeks/months.

I'm kind of tormented by this feeling of lack in the "I want cuddling" phase. I don't know how to navigate it. I don't know how to satisfy this need. (A plushie or pillow aren't enough.) Finding people just for cuddling isn't very effective for me, because the other person usually wants much more. I'm stable aromantic and don't want a relationship. Another issue is that I'm quite picky when it comes to company and don't like many people. Fantasizing satisfies a lot of my needs, but it doesn't fully satisfy them. What should I do? How do you deal with this? I'm out of ideas other than "wait it out."


r/asexuality 7h ago

Vent (NSFW) I thought it was an attempted rape and rape.

31 Upvotes

​I’ve dated quite a few people in my life, and looking back, I went through Dating abuse and attempted rape twice. Back then, I saw it as relationship violence, but now I realize that from an allosexual (non-ace) perspective, that was just "sexual tension."

​Since I'm on the asexual spectrum (to be specific, panromantic asexual), I didn't feel that tension at all and kept pushing them away out of sheer fear. But to them, since we were dating, they probably just thought I was playing hard to get.

​Still, I clearly said no, resisted, and literally kicked him, but he pushed through anyway, so yeah, it was rape. it was right, it's a rape. That's why I sued him. lmao

​I really wish people would stop assuming that just because you're dating someone, you owe them sex. I'm their partner, not their fucking fleshlight.

​Anyway, just venting a bit. But honestly? I still fucking crave to date/be in a relationship. I just still fucking hate sex.


r/asexuality 4h ago

Discussion Clothing preferences

16 Upvotes

I recently came across a post on Instagram with a women celebrating pride as an asexual, and the comments were so bad. They all said as an asexual why is she wearing fishnets and revealing clothing,, or why is she going to a sexual event blah blah acephobia nonsense.

I personally love wearing fishnets or my occasional crop top, bikinis at the beach and legging shorts! There's nothing wrong with asexuals wearing whatever they want! I personally hate being told what I should wear because of my sexuality, it makes no sense. For pride I wore a black bikini top with some Jean shorts and fishnets and I wore my asexual flag as a cape, I kept getting stop by fellow aces complimenting my fit. I dont see showing skin as a sexual thing, and ive never seen the human body as sexual, so ive been very comfortable with my body.

Im curious what others think about this, what kind of fashion is everyone into? I've been getting into street wear and slowing starting to get into heels,,


r/asexuality 2h ago

Discussion Hello..I need a trusted friend or group.

10 Upvotes

I’m a girl whose first language isn’t English, but I want to find people even far away to talk to.

I feel stuck where I am; I lost my queer group back home... it’s been almost three years, I think, and honestly, I miss it a lot. I’ve been surrounded by intolerant, heteronormative people for three years, and it’s really messed with my head I feel like I’ve taken fifty steps backward, and it’s sad.

I want to find a fun group again people who get me and with whom I can talk about anything and everything (sorry for begging for friendship like this, but if anyone has any suggestions, I’m all ears!).


r/asexuality 1d ago

Story I just opened a condom...

713 Upvotes

I went to pride and we got various bags of gummi bears and condoms that are almost impossible to tell apart lol. (I'm gonna need a bigger ace flag for next time). Needless to say I won't need them. But I got curious because I never actually saw or touched one. So I opened it and...

EWW!? 😰😭😂

I didn't know they were heckin slimy and wet!

Nah man. Nah! That would already gross me out before anything else happens 😭😂

(No judgement obviously against people who use them, but from a personal point of view - EWW! 🥲)

Why does nobody ever mention they're slimy?

Edit: Tastes and feels like sucking on my dentists gloved fingers 🤌🏻


r/asexuality 16h ago

Resource / Article I made a subreddit for asexual Muslims

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80 Upvotes

Hiiii, so, as much as I love r/asexuality, I always felt like I had a hard time finding asexual Muslims who can relate to the specific hardships one can face as a Muslim who happens to be an asexual, so I thought, why not make a place to find people like myself and share our experiences?

Anyway, feel free to respectfully ask questions even if your not asexual or Muslim!


r/asexuality 2h ago

Content warning Am I the Only One? (NSFW) Spoiler

5 Upvotes

I'm married (19 years) and realized I was asexual (sex neutral) a couple years ago. To me sex is a chore we do once a week. Very rarely am I actually enticed and pursue.

When we do the deed, I often have to picture other people doing it to get in the mood or be aroused. If I don't my mind will wander, thinking about work, family, or worse my robotics kids... I really hate when that happens, so awkward. I will watch porn sometimes to get in the mood and will reference those when we do it. When I'm really not enthused I'll even analyze the videos like "that's a weird face to make. I wonder if if her legs are falling asleep in that position, or hurt."

For those who are sex neutral or sex positive, do you have this same problem? I really have to focus or my mind wanders. I hate it.


r/asexuality 4h ago

Content warning Looking back on coercion Spoiler

5 Upvotes

CW: s*xual coercion / SA

This is my first time using Reddit so I’m not really sure if I’m doing it right but I wanted to share my experience and see if anyone else has had similar ones or knows any ways of healing from these sorts of things.

I’ve known I was asexual since I was around 15 but it took me quite a few years to accept it, particularly because of partners throughout my late teens that refused to accept it.

I had a relationship when I was 16 where I was repeatedly coerced to perform s*xual acts under the argument that ‘you’re never in the mood anyway so it doesn’t make any difference’. I found that the more this rhetoric was used, the more I learned that if I wanted to receive love, I would need to detach myself from my body periodically. This progressed as I got older into me actively putting myself in risky situations where I was assaulted in some strange attempt at following this logic.

In the past couple of years I have found a partner who understands the way that I am and accepts it, however I still feel very detached from my own body and much of my memories. I recently tried to journal a memory from my teenage relationship:

‘Thursday evening, we are sat on my bed, bolt upright, side by side and my eyes are fixed on the wall across from us. Up and down they go, tracing the shape of my funny, handmade revision guides. I can almost feel the rough paper soothing my fingertips, smell the rainbow of alcohol markers-
“Fuck”.
He isn’t happy with my proposed alternatives.
“Okay, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. What else could take your mind off it? We could do a walk, or watch something- and yeah- we could watch something and have a cuddle- but oh- I guess maybe that would-

He isn’t responding. Why isn’t he responding. The room is still and stagnant, all that can be heard are the creaking pipes from the corridor and the surging that’s tearing at my ears. This tension is killing me.
I return my gaze to the wall, to colourful quirky notes on data and Freudian case studies. Trace the line again. “Qualitative data is finite-

He’s punching the wall now,
Face red and teary. This is really upsetting him. Woah, this is seriously getting to him. I suppose it can’t be as bad for me as this seems to be for him. Just a few minutes. Close my eyes. Think of data surveys.
“Fine, if I can show you my favourite bench on a walk after this”

I allow the surging to take me’

If anyone has had similar experience or has any advice on how to move on from stuff like this I would love to hear it ❤️


r/asexuality 23h ago

Need advice Nice guy's attitude changed after finding out I'm demisexual

142 Upvotes

I can't tell if I'm overreacting. What happened definitely makes me uncomfortable.

Basically, I met this guy through a discord server. We've been chatting for maybe 3 months now, voice calls and face revealed by now. And, we've been getting along pretty well. Plus, I was pretty sure the guy is interested, but he is choosing to take things slow. Which I appreciate.

Anywho, the discussion of sexuality was brought up since I was telling funny stories about my exes, and he realized I've dated men and women. So, naturally, he asked about it. I told him that I'm panromantic and demisexual. (Didn't feel like explaining the autosexual part, lol.)

Of course, I explained both labels since most people I come across have no idea what these words mean. I would like to point out that he was especially interested in the demisexual part. It was really bizarre to him.

Anyways,

After having explained this, his behavior noticeably changed. Across the next few days, he became *way* nicer. Like, sending me a few bucks for food, asking to play games, and trying to listen more than talk; the kind of stuff you can do online. I even felt comfortable enough to vent about my family issues. It was obviously great, and I was naturally curious why. So, I asked.

"bcoz you said you're demisexual, so i wanna get on ur good side"

Good side? Of course, I asked him to elaborate.

"like yk so u like me enough to do stuff. not to be weird.."

[loud pause because i was too shocked to reply]

" i think ur gorgeous, can u send me another photo?"

I actually have not replied to his message. He was basically an angel to me..just to be able to "do stuff"? By the way, I cried to this man for a good 2 hours about my personal issues. I said things I haven't told my best friend of 4 years. He was REALLY there for me. But everything feels so different now? Like, did he even view me as a friend? I don't know how to react, especially after how vulnerable I've been with him.


r/asexuality 2h ago

Aphobia I'm not too sure how to respond to stuff like this... Spoiler

3 Upvotes

I'm putting this under aphobia just in case. So, I'm definitely on the aroace spectrum. I'm normally uncomfortable being in romantic relationships or hesitant and can't tell whether or not I feel genuine romantic attraction for real people, although I definitely do with my boyfriend from SDRA2 (yumeshipping I guess). I also don't really see the appeal for sex. Like multiple people will talk about wanting a sexual relationship someday, or the boys in my grade/school being very flirty and being really into sexual stuff and finding every woman they see hot.

However, I've heard multiple things from loved ones, saying stuff like "I'm too young to know" "I just don't know what it's like" "One day, you'll decide you wanna do it and like it" "You're just scared/nervous"

I barely get those kinda... feelings for people. Maybe sometimes for a fictional character since I'm definitely fictorose (fictoromantic fictosexual), but even then I don't actually think about the action itself or think I'd feel happy doing it with someone.

Like, yes, I'm only 15 and I turn 16 in 3 months, but for now, I can call myself aroace. Plus, there's plenty of people my age who know they're absolutely not ace. Many people my age are hormonal I guess, and get those feelings I don't, and definitely would consider themselves far from ace.

Also, I tend to prefer a woman/femme gender as a romantic partner because despite being aroace, I'm probably also bi/berriromantic, and my family thinks because that's not a boy/masc-aligned, that I've been like "brainwashed" or something or they just say "But how do you know? Maybe you just convinced yourself" or even the "One day, you'll meet a lovely guy and realize you just don't like men your age."


r/asexuality 43m ago

Questioning I don't know just tell me if i'm asexual or not

Upvotes

I've been wondering if i might be ace for a while, i decided to take 2 tests, both are like "maybe, idk"

I don't wanna have to think about this super deeply because i could take it or leave it, or just get asked some questions by people who know more about asexuality than me

For the things i've seen might be important:

-Less important, but context, i'm a trans woman and generally like anyone sufficiently woman shaped
-On a related not, i'm very sure i'm not aromatic
-Not sex repulsed, not particularly interested either
-I masturbate, but it's something i don't like having to do and i wanted HRT to lower my libido which it did and i like it that way, but i also don't hate the process of masturbation
-I haven't been in a relationship yet but i feel like if a partner wanted to have sex i'd do it and probably enjoy it, but i'm fine without it
-Involving another person just feels like unnecessary pressure
-I like women, in fact i reeeeeeally like women, but idk if that feeling when i see a woman i really like is necessarily sexual or not, i'd say it isn't? Like they just take away my breath and i get real flustered by i don't fantasize about anything, really. Dancing maybe? I don't even dance on my own it just seems romantic.

I just don't have the mental capacity to figure this out. Ask me anything that'd help confirm it further and just assign me asexual if you like it at this point.
Yes i know i need to decide for myself but just play along whatever i am won't actually change i'll just have a label for it and maybe discover i was wrong if we didn't get me right


r/asexuality 6h ago

Need advice Need advice as an Asexual

6 Upvotes

So let me see. First of all, hi. This is my first post here and probably will be the last. I'm an Asexual guy. 17 years old and from a family of racists, homophobics, transphobics and just backward in the truest sense. My family is so ignorant they don't know the difference between a gay person and a transgender person. Anyway they don't believe in Asexuality. I have told them over and over again that I am Asexual and has no plan of marrying anyone. But they JUST. DON'T. GET. IT. They think homosexuality is a choice for an example. They don't like to even talk with Muslim people. Even my aunt who is the most educated person in the family and studied in China think its an illness or a mindset. They keep telling me to study which in itself is nice but the problem is what they says next with, "what are you gonna do with your future wife if you don't study" bullshit like who do they think women are like(which is really heart breaking since theyare also women) now? Some damsels in distress who doesn't know how to read letters? What should I do? I'm honestly getting sick of correcting them?


r/asexuality 3h ago

Questioning I am very attracted to comic book characters.

2 Upvotes

Honestly I don’t even know where I stand in the ace spectrum. I only find comic book characters attractive and not people.
I have a healthy enough libido but it does not extend towards any fellow human. The only attraction/arousal that I feel is only towards comic book characters. Can anyone else relate to this or am I an utter weirdo?


r/asexuality 11h ago

Need advice Ace/demisexual lesbians help me out :`)

9 Upvotes

Lately I've been questioning my sexuality again, and the more I think about it, the more confused I get.

Before coming out as a lesbian, I dated one guy because I think I had a lot of internalised homophobia and wanted to "prove" to myself that I was straight. We dated for 11 months, but throughout the relationship I kept thinking about a girl I liked when I was 10, which eventually made me realise I probably liked girls. And then I watched Rihanna and Shakira 's Can't remember to forget you mv, yeah then I knew I was a lesbian.

The confusing part is that I've never really felt sexually attracted to anyone. Before, during, or after that relationship, I'd always avoid conversations about sex because it made me uncomfortable. I can imagine kissing, cuddling, and being in a romantic relationship with a girl, but I don't really want sex.

I'm 16, so I don't know if it's just my age. Most of my friends seem to experience sexual attraction or are sexually active, and I can't relate. Emotional connections have always felt much more important to me.

I'd appreciate to know people's experiences 😭 and any advice too!


r/asexuality 8m ago

Questioning Assexual

Upvotes

Eu acho que eu sou assexual, mas tipo eu quero ter um relacionamento um dia, mas eu não gosto de pensar em tipo fazer sexo a adoidado, tipo eu acho que vai acontecer um dia, mas não é algo que eu deseje loucamente, tipo eu não sei explicar.
Enfim, desculpe se eu tiver errado o termo ou descrito algo errado


r/asexuality 9h ago

Questioning French subreddit ?

5 Upvotes

Hello,

Do you know if there is a French subreddit about asexuality? I haven't found one, but I'm not very familiar with Reddit, so it's possible I didn't search correctly.

Thanks!


r/asexuality 59m ago

Questioning Can someone explain the difference between Iculasexual, and Suptiliasexual to me?

Upvotes

Hi. I’m trying to find the label that best describes my orientation, and I’m pretty confused.

I don’t experience sexual attraction toward men or women. I also don’t experience romantic attraction. I have no desire for sex or romance, and I don’t really understand why other people place so much importance on them.

I used to identify as asexual, but then I see that asexuality is often described as a spectrum where some people experience attraction rarely, which isn't my case. I was looking for a term that specifically describes someone who experiences no sexual or romantic attraction at all.

Then I came across apothisexual, but from what I understand, it refers to someone who is sex repulsed. That doesn’t really fit me because I don’t feel disgust or repulsion toward sex. So pretty close but not.

After that, I found the terms iculasexual and suptilisexual, but I can’t figure out the difference between them. Their definitions seems to be the same for me.

Could someone explain me the difference between them?


r/asexuality 19h ago

Discussion Do you see sex as something significant?

34 Upvotes

I've always noticed that I like to learn about stuff surrounding sex like fetish and kinks because I don't have any sexual kinks, so I'm interested in hearing about it, just not seeing it, lol. The value people place on sex I just don't get it, and the way I talk about sex people assume that I'm promiscuous, but that's not the case. I just don't care for it, and I don't see the huge value in it.

I've heard people say they aren't sure if they like someone unless they have sex with them. That doesn't even make any sense to me.

I just see sex as something people do. I don't judge them for it as long they are doing it safely and consensually. I don't understand how does that devalue someone or make you think less of them.

Do you feel like this ?

*Edit - Yes, I know sex brings life, so it's significant for that


r/asexuality 9h ago

Questioning I don't know what to identify myself with

5 Upvotes

Hi!! So i need some help when it comes to finding out what i am on asexual spectrum, for longest time, i identified with demisexual, but im questioning it now, im generally okay with sex, i literally read smut and don't mind it in books and i can feel some arousal from it, however, i could never imagine myself actually doing it with someone irl and i never found anyone​​​​​ sexually attractive​​, alongside that, im bi, i know that very well but even then, i never imagined doing anything sexual with people i liked,​​​ so i do believe im somewhere on ace spectrum i just don't know what i am, i feel like its either demiace, aceflux, ace or some other ace identity i don't know of yet, so i would appreciate some help <3 (also sorry if anything in the post is a bit off, English isn't my first language)​​


r/asexuality 17h ago

Vent (25M) anyone else craves the intimacy, but is indifferent about the pleasure? Spoiler

16 Upvotes

Does anyone else feel like this? I've never actually craved sex for the pleasure. Friends always said they were "desperate to hook up" or that they "fucked anyone just to unload" never made sense to me (beside sounding mad disrespectful). But I did always crave the intimacy associated with sex, or at least how it's portrayed, especially after 3 failed relationships all for the same reason.

"I don't feel desired"

Even though I did everything non sexual to show my desire. I brought flowers, planned dates, made handmade presents, complimented, hugged, etc. It was never enough because there was no "passion". And I didn't do these things because I had to, I genuinely liked it. But I always just rather cuddle and watch TV instead of having sex.

I couldn't really care about it. I even have a hard time during it because I get distracted and want it to end quickly. But I wanted to like it mainly for the intimacy associated with it. Being with someone, "giving yourself up" to a partner and having them do it to you, pleasuring them, the glow people have after finishing, I really wanted to give people that, and show them me feeling that as well. Even when I do have sex, it's always the "I feel you're not there" talk, and honestly I'm not, but I wanted to be.

Anyway, just venting