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Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)/Genitopelvic Dysesthesia (GPD)
- Men and women with this condition become sexually aroused without any sexual activity/stimulation
- Can last for hours, days or weeks at a time
- Also called PSAS (Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome)
- Unknown
- Some researchers believe it may be related to restless leg syndrome as a similar type of disorder (and should be called Restless Genital Syndrome)
- Pinching/compressing the pudendal nerve, which helps you feel sensations around your genitals, is thought to cause PGAD/GPD
- Anxiety, depression, bipolar 1 disorder, OCD and other similar conditions are common to exist alongside PGAD/GPD
- It’s unclear if these conditions cause PGAD/GPD, or are caused by PGAD/GPD
- Spontaneous and intense physiological sexual arousal
- Genital fullness/swelling and sensitivity that can persist for hours/days
- Symptoms do not decrease with orgasm and might require multiple orgasms over hours/days to resolve
- The persistent genital arousal can also be triggered by a non-sexual stimuli/no apparent stimulus at all
- Increased anxiety and distress
- Medical history and medication record
- Physical exam of the genital area
- Testing to measure blood flow to your genitals before, during and after sexual arousal
- Neurological testing: To determine if nerve damage may be causing the condition
- Psychological assessment and testing
- Pelvic physiotherapy: With biofeedback and combined with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): Uses electrical currents to help relieve nerve pain
- Oral Medications: Tricyclic antidepressants and Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Botulinum toxin injections
- Hypnotherapy
