With physical intimacy, things may happen in a certain order. You may get sexually aroused because of what you feel, see, smell, touch, and hear. Your body reacts with physical changes, and your mind may become excited as well.
But there's a very unusual condition, almost always in women, where sexual arousal happens with no sexual desire or triggers. It happens when you don't want it to, and you can't predict it. It's called persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD).
What Is PGAD?
It's an extremely rare disorder where you have unwanted arousal in your genitals that doesn't go away with orgasms. If not treated, it can harm your mental health, lower your quality of life, and interfere with your ability to have healthy sexual relationships. It's much more common in women, but it only affects 1% of them.
This is a relatively new condition, first named in 2001. Unlike hypersexuality or sexual addiction, it involves no sexual desire.
What Are Symptoms of PGAD?
You may have increased blood flow and sense tension in your clitoris, labia, perineum, and anus. Symptoms can last hours or even days. They may include:
- Pain in your genitals
- Vaginal lubrication
- Vaginal contractions
- Tingling in your clitoris
- Orgasms
Orgasms may or may not relieve your symptoms, and those symptoms quickly return.
PGAD doesn't feel good in ways sexual arousal does. It can cause you to have sensations in your genitals, such as:
- Throbbing
- Itching
- Burning
- Pressure
- Pounding
- Pins and needles
What Causes PGAD?
Experts aren't sure, but they think it's probably a combination of things. Those may include:
- Stress, anxiety, and depression
- Tarlov cysts (cysts at the base of your spine)
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Periclitoral mass (an abscess near or on your clitoris)
- Pelvic varices (varicose veins in your pelvis)
How Do Doctors Diagnose PGAD?
There are five criteria for making a diagnosis of PGAD. They are:
- Having arousal in your genitals for hours, days, or months
- Genital arousal that doesn't go away after one or more orgasms
- Feeling sexual arousal without any desire
- No clear medical cause found for the symptoms
- Experiencing distress because of these symptoms
How Is PGAD Treated?
There are no standard treatments for PGAD. Treatment is decided on a case-by-case basis. Because this diagnosis is still new, experts are still learning how to best treat it. But these may help ease your symptoms:
- Physical therapy, like pelvic floor exercises and massage
- Medications, including mood stabilizers and antidepressants
- Behavioral health care, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy
- Working with a sex therapist
Takeaways
PGAD is a very rare condition where you have unwanted arousal in your genitals that doesn't go away with orgasms. Its cause isn't known. A new condition recognized in 2001, experts are still researching ways to treat it. Your care plan is tailored to you and may include physical therapy, medication, and mental health therapy. If not treated, PGAD symptoms can harm your mental health, lower your quality of life, and interfere with your ability to have healthy sexual relationships. It's much more common in women, but it affects only 1% of them. It's unlike hypersexuality or sexual addiction in that it involves no sexual desire.
Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder FAQs
How to calm down PGAD
Treatment for PGAD is tailored to each case. Your plan may include physical therapy, medications, mental health therapy, and sex therapy.
What triggers PGAD?
Experts don't know for sure, but they believe it's triggered by a mix of factors. Those may include taking SSRIs, having stress or depression, and having certain medical issues.
How long does a PGAD flare last?
Symptoms can last hours or days.
When should I see a doctor?
See your doctor if you have PGAD symptoms that cause you distress or make it hard to have a healthy sexual relationship.
