I have PGAD

[shinenshoes]

I know your not going to have an answer but that's okay I just want more people to know about this and maybe someday someone will take the time to actually help. I have PGAD and I want to know who to seek and the probable causes? I recently found on here it is associated with sexual abuse...how would that cause PGAD? To my knowledge I've never been sexually abused or have taken any SSIRs, and I'm only in my 20's so it not the post-menopausal one... so what category do i fit in?

[llouvely]

i've recently been diagnosed with persistent arousal disorder after a wonderful one night stand with a good friend of mind. sex was mind blowing but the full body orgasms never ended. i tried everything from cold showers to running but nothing worked. about three days later my lower abdominal muscle continues to spasm, triggering the arousal and orgasms.  I was sent to a doctor here in grand rapids michigan who specializes in women's health, mid life and menopause. she, along with some of the nurses, where the only people who showed me symphathy unlike the staff at the ER.
she suggested i do physical therapy to relieve the muscles in my pelvic floor. and it did help to a certain degree.
unfortunately, the symptoms are not gone. i still get my spasms and moments of sudden arousal (which tend to last for hours during the night) the only difference now is that i have a better idea of how to avoid triggering them and how to keep them under control.

but as far as pain goes, i have none. i'm never sore from my muscles contracting so much, nor does my clit get to the point of physical irritation. it's just a constant vibration that never ends. i've been prescribed gabapenten for now, which helps my spams from triggering random orgasm. and for the arousal i focus on wearing out other muscles in my body through exercise to keep my mind off it and exhaust myself to the point of sleep.

i have good days and i have bad day. today being a sleepless one.

however my sex life is still the same, (thank god) and i find that it gives me temporary relief for the day. not once have i turned down a night of fun or felt that it was too much to bear. it honestly makes up for a good release compared to self masturbation.

clearly my case isn't as bad as most women out there, but if it helps, i'd figure i'd share mine.

[Hoping2findcausencure]

I have it too and like Dale Decker find it disgusting.  I no longer choose to have sex with my husband because I don't want to aggravate it. I have been told by doctors that they have never heard of it...but that it is amazing! (I sure don't think so) That I should just 'go with it and enjoy' , that I needed to go on a cleansing diet to decrease the estrogen in my body, that connective tissue in my lower abdomen needed to be released, that the left side of my vagina was tighter than the right, that I must have been abused and should seek counseling, that I needed to see a chiropractor, that it was in my head, that an MRI showed it was likely due to degenerative disk disease, that it was due to Prozac, due to Wellbutrin, due to menopause, from riding horses and from wearing my pants too tight. It is a physical, neurological disorder that is embarrassing to admit or talk about and to do so is pointless until it is recognized as real and until there is interest in curing it.

[frustrated102607]

I have been looking all over for some, any sort of support for PGAD/RGS. I live in south Florida. Does anyone know of a doctor who may know anything about this horrid condition. I have been living with it for over 2 years. I am at my wits end. I know there is no cure, but I am willing to try some of the things that have helped a few people.

[Ramsden5044]

Hi I have PGAD to and I take gabapentin for it and it helps. My question is why are doctors not researching a cure for this as it's very similar to restless legs. Mine started when I went on a SSRI drug for anxiety and it got worse when I quit it. I'm trying to get the word out about it too as some people and doctors think it's all in our heads but it's not .... Not at all. It's terrible and I wish it would just stop.

[Dr Sharma]

Hello dear and welcome to the medhelp forum. PGAD is persistent genital arousal disorder where women have uncontrollable genital arousal and engorgement unrelated to sexual desire. You have researched on the topic trying to decipher the causes and associations. Is there any history of hormonal treatment? Entrapments of nerve supplying the genitalia have also been documented. In many situations, no cause is found. Management would involve evaluation by a gynecologist and psychiatrist. Medical therapy includes anti depressants, anesthetizing gels, psychotherapy and regional nerve blocks. Wishing you all the best.