Hedonesexual is an acespec (asexual spectrum) identity for someone who experiences sexual attraction and/or wants sexual relationships, but when they actually have sex, they are unable to experience pleasure. This lack of pleasure might be linked to medical issues, trauma, or other factors.
A hedonesexual person can still use other labels (like gay, bi, pan, etc.) to describe who they’re attracted to. Hedonesexual specifically describes the mismatch between having attraction/wanting sex and not feeling pleasure during sex. Some people who are hedonesexual because of trauma may also identify as caedsexual.
Origins of the Term
The term is believed to have been coined on LGBTW wikis in 2021. The word comes from the Greek "hedone," the Greek goddess of pleasure.
