Abstract
Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a relatively recently described sexual disorder, characterized by symptoms of spontaneous genital arousal which persist in the absence of sexual desire and may affect women and men. Epidemiological studies conducted so far indicate that the prevalence of PGAD in the population may reach 1-4%. The etiology of PGAD remains unclear and complex, hypothesized causes include vascular, neurological, hormonal, psychological, pharmacologic, dietary, mechanical factors or a combination of these factors. Proposed methods of treatment include pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, hypnotherapy, injection of botulinum toxin, pelvic floor physical therapy, application of anesthetizing agents, reduction of identifiable factors exacerbating the symptoms, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. There is no standardized treatment algorithm for PGAD due to lack of clinical trials (evidence-based medicine). The classification of PGAD is under discussion: it could be classified as a separate sexual disorder, a subtype of vulvodynia or a disorder with pathogenesis similar to overactive bladder (OAB) and restless legs syndrome (RLS). Due to specificity of symptoms, patients may feel shame and discomfort during the examination or even delay reporting symptoms to the specialist. Thus, it is crucial to spread knowledge about this disorder, which would allow doctors to diagnose and help PGAD patients sooner.
Highlights
First cases of persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) were reported by S.R
An interesting phenomenon observed during this study was a large percentage of woman (33.3%) experiencing spontaneous genital arousal in the absence of sexual desire, this feeling was not persistent and not as bothersome as in PGAD
PGAD is associated with feelings of embarrassment and anxiety which may result in reluctance to reveal those symptoms both in the survey and during medical appointment
Summary
Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a relatively recently described sexual disorder, characterized by symptoms of spontaneous genital arousal which persist in the absence of sexual desire and may affect women and men. The etiology of PGAD remains unclear and complex, hypothesized causes include vascular, neurological, hormonal, psychological, pharmacologic, dietary, mechanical factors or a combination of these factors. There is no standardized treatment algorithm for PGAD due to lack of clinical trials (evidence-based medicine). The classification of PGAD is under discussion: it could be classified as a separate sexual disorder, a subtype of vulvodynia or a disorder with pathogenesis similar to overactive bladder (OAB) and restless legs syndrome (RLS). It is crucial to spread knowledge about this disorder, which would allow doctors to diagnose and help PGAD patients sooner
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