What is Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder? Symptoms Causes Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatments FAQ

Understanding PGAD & Pelvic Pain

What is Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder?

Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder, also known as PGAD Restless Genital Syndrome or Persistent Genital Arousal Syndrome, is a condition characterized by unrelenting, spontaneous, and uncontainable genital arousal. Arousal symptoms feel unbidden, intrusive, uninvited, and unwanted, and the symptoms cause distress.

Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder

Risk Factors

Although the causes of persistent genital arousal can commonly be traced back to pelvic floor conditions, there are other conditions and lifestyle factors that can increase both a man’s and a woman’s chance of developing PGAD.

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    Gynecologic disorders

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    Pudendal Neuralgia

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    Repetitive Stress

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    Weaning off antidepressants

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    Tarlov Cyst

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    Post gynecologic surgeries

Do You Think You Have PGAD?

Diagnosing Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder

Diagnosing PGAD and the issues that are causing it requires an in-depth examination of both the nerves and muscles within the pelvis, learning of your medical history, and getting a full picture of your symptoms and lifestyle.

Here’s what you can expect when you are a patient at Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine:

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    Step One – First, our providers will ask questions about your medical history and listen to your symptoms to get a full picture of what is going on with you.

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    Step Two – Next, an external exam of your hips, abdomen, and posterior sacrum.

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    Step Three – Next, your pelvic nerves are evaluated externally with a soft cotton tip.

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    Step Four – Next, with your consent, gel is placed on a gloved finger and an internal exam is performed to allow us to evaluate the nerves and muscles within the pelvis. There is no speculum required as we are evaluating the pelvic floor muscles and nerves not the organs.

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    Step Five – Sometimes patients will need Imaging to help us understand if there is an associated cause of the pelvic nerve and muscle pain and dysfunction found on exam.

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    Step Six – Oftentimes, treatment can be started the same day as there is no down time. Our patients have been suffering with pelvic pain symptoms for 6+ months. We like to get them on the road to feeling better as soon as we can as the longer the symptoms are present the harder it is for us to resolve them.

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Schedule an appointment with a pelvic pain specialist near you and begin your healing journey.

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