This a large number for such an infrequently discussed phenomenon! It’s similar to the numbers estimated for Americans living with multiple sclerosis, and more than the number of people living in Cincinnati, Ohio. So a reasonable estimate of the number of Americans suffering from sexual orientation-themed OCD would be 315,000. Of those 3.95 million, estimates are that 8% of them have sexual orientation obsessions. OCD, the broader category in which HOCD falls, affects 1.2% of Americans - approximately 3.95 million people. HOCD affects less than 1% of the population.
It’s also known as SO-OCD (sexual orientation) or “gay OCD.” It is a variant of OCD, and can have a profound impact on the lives of those living with it. HOCD is the abbreviation for homosexual obsessive-compulsive disorder.
