Fetishism is a sexual disorder. People with this disorder are sexually aroused by an object or part of a person's body, such as a foot. Common fetishes include women's underclothes, stockings, and shoes.
The exact cause of this disorder is not known. Experts think it may be caused by differences in the brain or nervous system. It might also be related to things such as sexual abuse or a family history of mental illness.
Fetishism generally starts during childhood or the teen years. Most people with this disorder are male.
When a person has this disorder, the fetish must be present in order for the person to become sexually excited. They may masturbate while holding, rubbing, or smelling the fetish. They may ask a partner to wear the fetish during sex. The fetish may even replace sexual activity with a partner.
The fantasies, urges, or behaviors may be so upsetting that they cause problems in school, on the job, or in relationships.
Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms, relationships, medical history, and substance abuse history. He or she may also ask if someone close to you has a history of mental illness. Your provider may also do a physical exam and order tests to rule out medical conditions as a cause of your symptoms.
Different kinds of conditioning therapy may be used to treat this disorder. In biofeedback therapy, you are connected to a machine that gives you feedback with light or sound. You try to keep feedback within a certain range while you are exposed to sexually exciting material.
In covert sensitization, you first relax and picture scenes that excite you. Then you imagine something negative, such as getting your penis stuck in the zipper of your pants.
With assisted aversive conditioning, the negative event is real rather than imagined. For example, your therapist sprays a bad smell such as ammonia in the air. The goal is for you to link your actions with something negative and avoid both.
Many normal men are sexually aroused by women's underwear, such as garter belts and stockings. You may request that your partner keep these items on during sexual activity. This is not fetishism unless you are unable to perform sexually if your partner is not wearing the items.
If your symptoms are seriously interfering with your daily life, seek help from your health care provider or a mental health professional. Fetishism can be part of a more severe sexual disorder.
For more information, contact the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) or the National Mental Health Association (NMHA).
Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File BHV3328F.HTM Release 9.0/2006
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