Sex Repulsed

Sex repulsed means that a person experiences sex as unpleasant, repelling, distressing, or disgusting. Related terms include “sex averse” and “apothisexual,” although they are not always used in exactly the same way across communities: “sex repulsed” usually emphasizes a stronger feeling of aversion or repulsion, while “sex averse” may also describe a more general avoidance or rejection of sexual situations.

The aversion may concern sex in general or only certain sexual acts, bodily fluids, touch, conversations, depictions, or the idea of being sexually desired oneself. It may be mild, situational, or very strong, and it can change over time. Being sex repulsed does not automatically mean rejecting physical closeness, intimacy, love, relationships, or masturbation; it is also not the same as a moral rejection of sexuality in other people.

The term comes mainly from the asexual community and is used especially often by people on the asexual spectrum, but it is not limited to them. Respectful interaction means taking boundaries seriously: sexual acts, conversations, or expectations should not be imposed, and consent is always necessary. Being sex repulsed is not a diagnosis and does not need to be “overcome” unless the person themselves is distressed by it or wants support.