Asexuality is an ambiguous concept used to reference individuals who do not experience sexual attraction, have little or no drive for sex, or for whom sexual activity is repulsive or uninteresting. Some sexology researchers suggest that asexuality is more of a sexual orientation than a sexual disorder.
Asexuality occurs in about 1% of the population and is more prevalent among women than men.
Celibacy is different from asexuality. Celibacy is the choice to abstain from any form of sexual expression, but sexual attraction and desire still exist. Some people choose celibacy if they have a history of negative consequences associated with sexual behavior.
Asexuality does not seem to be correlated with a history of sexual trauma or problems related to attachment. Asexuals rarely experience ridicule from anyone other than their partners and they are often not distressed by their lack of sexual attraction. You don't crave what you never desired. It is difficult to cultivate desire for something you abhor or for which you have no purpose.
Asexual people are not necessarily unattractive to others. They may not appear prudent or conservative. They may have happy marriages and families in spite of their lack of erotic attraction to their partner. Most individuals who are asexual are unaware early in life how different they are from others. They generally enter into relationships out of cultural expectation instead of sexual attraction. They may have a few failed relationships before they fully understand the challenge their partners experience being in a relationship with someone who does not desire them sexually.
Some asexuals will never know the concept of asexuality and therefore never understand why they are disinterested in sex. If partnered, these individuals will likely not realize how unreasonable it is to expect their partner to live with minimal or no sexual intimacy.
Those who identify as asexual claim they lack attraction to any gender. They have the capacity for affection, but without sexual attraction. Ironically, some admit to self pleasuring to experience orgasmic release.
Some self-proclaimed asexuals even date or partner for reasons of companionship or social pressure. Some have sexual relationships out of obligation by simply tolerating it. Partners of these individuals often feel frustrated, neglected, or confused. Many will leave the relationship when they lose hope that their sexual differences will ever be resolved.
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Follow this link to take the asexuality quiz
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