Page 104 - GTM-2-4

Global Translational Medicine

CASE REPORT
Management of persistent genital arousal

disorder: A case report

Tainara Tavares Menchete, Rodolfo Silva Bertoli, Amanda Aguiar Loureiro,
Ana Carolina Japur de Sá Rosa-e-Silva, Fabiola Dach, Julia Kefalás Troncon,
Debora Aiesha Leite Cantelli, and Lucia Alves da Silva Lara*
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a pathological condition characterized
by intrusive, unwanted, and distressing symptoms related to spontaneous and
prolonged sensations of genital arousal in the absence of sexual desire or stimulation
that may compromise the individual’s quality of life. Here, we report the case of a
woman who suffered from PGAD probably associated with multiple alterations in the
spinal column and Tarlov cyst, which caused the compression of nerve roots and the
abnormal sensitivity of the genital region.

Keywords: Orgasm; Sexual arousal; Arousal disorder

1. Background

*Corresponding author: Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a pathological condition characterized by
Lucia Alves da Silva Lara intrusive, unwanted, and distressing symptoms related to spontaneous and prolonged
(llara@hcrp.usp.br) sensations of genital arousal in the absence of sexual desire or stimulation . PGAD
[1]
Citation: Menchete TT, Bertoli RS, causes significant discomfort, compromises the individual’s quality of life, and promotes
Loureiro AA, et al., 2023, feelings of shame, which can often lead to isolation and suicidal ideation .
[2]
Management of persistent genital
arousal disorder: A case report. The criteria for the diagnosis of PGAD are not well defined. Most people who suffer
Global Transl Med, 2(4): 2341.
[3]
https://doi.org/10.36922/gtm.2341 from this condition show several recurrent symptoms. In 2001, Leiblum and Nathan
proposed the following diagnostic criteria: (i) Persistently aroused genitalia, (ii) arousal
Received: November 30, 2023
Accepted: December 12, 2023 that remains after orgasm or that requires multiple orgasms to reduce, (iii) arousal
Published Online: December 26, 2023 unrelated to sexual desire, (iv) arousal triggered by sexual and non-sexual stimuli, and
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). (v) intrusive and unwanted symptoms. Unwanted sexual arousal remains the most
This is an Open-Access article common symptom among those with PGAD, accounting for 91.3% of the reported
distributed under the terms of the symptoms . Further criteria include sensations of being on the verge of orgasm and
[2]
Creative Commons Attribution
[4]
License, permitting distribution, duration of clinical presentation of at least 6 months .
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is The prevalence of PGAD has been underestimated, as it is approximated from studies
properly cited. with small sample sizes. A joint analysis of both American and Canadian populations,
Publisher’s Note: AccScience including 1,267 women, 360 men, and seven non-binary individuals, revealed that 1–4%
Publishing remains neutral with met the criteria for PGAD . The symptoms were more prevalent in the population
[5]
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional between 20 and 59 years of age, with the lowest rates reported among those aged 60 and
affiliations. above .
[5]
Volume 2 Issue 4 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/gtm.2341