National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Persistent genital arousal disorder



Other Names:
Persistent genital arousal; PGAD

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) in men may be considered as the condition of priapism and unwanted ejaculatory fluids being released without any sexual interest. In women there is still no consensus about a formal definition, but some of the experts propose that in women it should be defined as a rare, unwanted, and intrusive sexual dysfunction associated with excessive and unremitting genital arousal and engorgement in the absence of sexual interest. The persistent genital arousal usually does not resolve with orgasm and causes personal distress. Features include excessive excitement or excessive genital (lubrication, swelling, and engorgement) or other somatic responses. Causes may be neurological (central or peripheral involving the pudendal nerve), related to medication, vascular, hormonal, psychological or others.  Diagnosis of the cause is essential for an adequate patient management. The treatment may include avoiding offending medications, using medications that stabilize nerve transmission and/or effect mood, local topical anesthetic agents, ice and hormonal replacement. More recently PGAD has being described as one component of a broader Restless Genital Syndrome if the PGAD was also associated with urinary frequency/urgency and restless leg syndrome.[1][2]
Last updated: 7/14/2015

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • The Merck Manual for health care professionals provides information on Persistent genital arousal disorder.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Persistent genital arousal disorder. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  1. Goldstein I. Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder—Update on the Monster Sexual Dysfunction. Journal of Sexual Medicine. October 7, 2013; 10:2357–2358. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsm.12314/full. Accessed 7/14/2015.
  2. Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome. Boston University School of Medicine. March, 2004; http://www.bumc.bu.edu/sexualmedicine/informationsessions/persistent-sexual-arousal-syndrome/. Accessed 7/14/2015.