There is now general agreement that this does exist. Asexuality is very rare, affecting perhaps 1 per cent of the population, but people are getting more aware of it and there is now even a society for asexuals where people can get in touch with others who understand how they feel.

We might think of 'asexual' as meaning cold or lacking in feeling, but it isn't like that; asexuals do feel attraction and the need for physical affection, and often have happy and intimate relationships - they just don't tend to get aroused or feel the urge to have sex with someone, even if they find that person attractive.

This is of course different from someone who has been frightened off intimate relationships by some bad experience, or someone who finds they feel less interest in sex for health or other reasons. Generally, asexuals are quite happy with the way they are, so it should be considered an orientation rather than a 'condition'.