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Have you heard of a condition called ‘PGAD’?
hello. I’m Dr. Sangchul Hwang, a neurologist who studies and treats autonomic nerves. Today, we’re going to talk about a topic that’s a little bit taboo, but we need to talk about. It’s called Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder. In my practice, I see a lot of patients who suffer from this condition, but they often keep it to themselves for a long time because of shame or embarrassment. If you’re reading this and you’re struggling with this condition, I hope that today’s story will help you a little bit.
What is Persistent Sexual Arousal Disorder?
PGAD stands for Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder, which is also known as persistent sexual arousal disorder in Korean. This condition is characterized by persistent or recurrent arousal sensations around the genitals, regardless of sexual stimulation or sexual desire. In other words, it is a physically uncomfortable arousal sensation that persists against one’s will. These sensations can be more than just uncomfortable, they can affect your daily life and sleep, which can be very stressful for sufferers.
Key symptoms of ‘Persistent Sexual Arousal Disorder’
People who experience this condition usually describe an uncomfortable sensation of arousal around their genitals that doesn’t go away or doesn’t go away for a long time, even in the absence of any sexual stimulation. They may also experience symptoms that are more acute when they are sitting or lying down, or even more intense when they are trying to sleep. However, when they go to the doctor and have a gynecological examination, nothing is often found, leaving them even more confused.
Why does the scan say there is nothing wrong?
Many people who experience symptoms of persistent sexual arousal report that they’ve been to multiple doctors and had tests done, but no specific cause has been found. This is because persistent sexual arousal may be related to functional changes in the nervous system rather than structural problems, meaning that it may be caused by changes in sensory nerve sensitivity or nervous system regulation, rather than organ abnormalities that can be identified by tests.
Relationship to the autonomic nervous system
Your body has a system called the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is an important nervous system that regulates the body’s automatic functions, such as heartbeat, breathing, digestion, and bladder function. It is maintained by a balance of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, but stress, overwork, or an underlying nervous sensitivity can throw this balance off and cause the nervous system to become overly sensitive. In these situations, the sensory nerves around the pelvis can become overactive, causing unwanted sensory signals to be sent repeatedly.
Link to constitutional neurological sensitivity
In my practice, it’s not uncommon for people with symptoms similar to those of persistent sexual arousal disorder to have a nervous or stress-sensitive constitution. They may also have cold hands and feet, poor circulation, or a sensitive constitution that prevents them from sleeping well. In these cases, the balance of the autonomic nervous system is easily upset, increasing the sensitivity of the nervous system and potentially causing symptoms to manifest around the pelvis or lower abdomen.
It could be a signal from your body
Persistent sexual arousal disorder is not something to be ashamed of, but rather a sign from your body. If you’re experiencing similar symptoms, thinking you’re weird, or spending a lot of time alone with yourself, don’t wait too long – as you work to restore balance to your body, you’ll find that your nervous system becomes overly sensitive or out of balance.
Related articles
Some people experience interstitial cystitis or burning mouth syndrome as similar symptoms of nerve irritability. These symptoms may be related to autonomic imbalance, and it may be helpful to understand them together. You may also be interested in the articles below.
Persistent Sexual Arousal Disorder), Causes and Treatments – Excited Physician‘
