Protecting Sexual Diversity: Rethinking the Use of Neurotechnological Interventions to Alter Sexuality

In this article, I analyze the ethical and social implications of using neurotechnological interventions to alter sexual desires and behaviors. I focus on the psychopharmaceutical interventions that exist or are being developed to treat paraphilias, sex addiction, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, and “marital discord.” I argue that these interventions may simultaneously reflect and reinforce troubling social norms about sexuality and relationality while potentially reducing sexual diversity. Thus, if we wish to use these psychopharmaceuticals, we must think carefully about how to do so without threatening sexual diversity or further marginalizing sexual minorities.