Is Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder a Subtype of Vulvodynia? Comparing Psychosocial Correlates in Women With Persistent Genital Arousal and Vulvodynia Symptoms

Abstract

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is characterized by symptoms of physiological sexual arousal (genital vasocongestion, sensitivity) that are described as unwanted, distressing, and sometimes painful. Following a review of both bodies of literature, Markos and Dinsmore (2013) suggested that PGAD shares many similarities with vulvodynia. This study sought to compare psychosocial functioning of women with symptoms of persistent genital arousal (PGA) and vulvodynia. Women with symptoms of PGA (N=43), painful PGA (N=53) and vulvodynia (N=49) were recruited from online support groups, listservs, social media, health care providers, and researchers. Participants completed an online survey on daily functioning, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, relationship quality, and sexual functioning. There was no significant differences in depressive symptoms across all three groups (p > .05). However, there was an effect of group on anxiety symptoms, F(2, 135)= 6.82, p = .002. Women in the two PGA groups reported significantly greater anxiety symptoms than women in the vulvodynia group. The scores of women with PGA and painful PGA symptoms indicated significant difficulties on all domains of daily functioning, except basic activities of daily living, whereas women with vulvodynia reported significant difficulties with psychological and social functioning only. With regards to sexual functioning, women in the vulvodynia group reported significantly poorer sexual functioning than the two PGA groups. Interesting, there were no group differences in sexual distress or relationship satisfaction (p > .05).