The term 'pedophile' is often used as a derogatory term for a dirty man who preys on children. This is wrong, because not all people with a pedophilia diagnosis commit abuse. And it's actually not just grown men who can have sexual thoughts about children - young people and women can, too.

Our site is aimed at anyone who experiences sexual thoughts about children, regardless of whether they are over age 16 and have had the thoughts for a long time. You may need information and support, regardless of how old you are and how long you have had these kinds of thoughts. We therefore do not use the diagnosis 'pedophilia' here on the site, and we instead talk about 'people with sexual thoughts about children.'

You can have sexual thoughts about children and peers, and you can be attracted to both boys and girls. A person with sexual thoughts about children may, despite these thoughts, have a sexual life with their peers. This also applies if you have a pedophilia diagnosis. However, many of those who have been diagnosed with pedophilia will require help to achieve a healthy sexual life with peers.

People with sexual thoughts about children do not necessarily commit sexual abuse against children. Nor do they necessarily make use of sexual abuse material with children on the Internet ('child pornography'). Many people with sexual thoughts about children live a life where they do not act on their sexual attraction—they are sexually attracted to children but do not live it out.