I have the same experience that some people pull at one side, and other people at the other side. Gender is unimportant. With the people who generate this 'pull' in me bdsm is effortless in many ways.
I would also like to tell you that I had the same problem a number of years ago. I awoke to some strong bdsm urges during a relationship, and my partner did try to experiment a bit, but could not find anything of interest in it. We agreed that I could find me a person to fulfil that special need, as long as this was not a threat to the original relationship. It worked for about 4 years, with two partners both of which accepted each other.