Permanent arousal: a mind-blowing headache
Permanently aroused, without necessarily having erotic thoughts, some women suffer from a rare syndrome that can at first seem quite amusing. For these women however, it is a living nightmare.
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Some women are victim to permanent sexual arousal, something that has nothing to do with any particular erotic desire. But don’t laugh or think them rather lucky! This very incapacitating syndrome can push women to complete despair.
Read on to find out a little more about this unusual disorder.
Female priapism or persistent sexual arousal syndrome
Traditionally neglected, female sexual disorders have begun to receive special attention more recently. While lack of desire and arousal make up the majority of complaints and studies, other more rare problems can truly handicap a woman's sex life and even her life in general.
In 2001, a new syndrome was identified: Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome or PSAS2. The female equivalent of priapism, PSAS is a persistent state of high arousal, in the absence of any sexual desire.
I can already imagine the men out there smiling at the thought of such a thing... well, calm your libido-charged brain! Just ike priapism, this condition is very incapacitating and stressful with most sufferers confessing to feeling real despair.
When sexual arousal becomes a nightmare
“Sitting down became unbearable, just the pressure sometimes causing an orgasm. Standing up was the only time I didn’t feel anything. Even driving became torture. Those of my close friends and family who I talked to first thought it must be quite fun, and then realised it wasn’t at all... I am constantly in a state of high sexual arousal, a purely physical thing not associated with sexual or romantic fantasies,” explained one patient who, like others, has already considered suicide3.
How can these women be helped? For the time being, there is still little known about the number of women affected, the causes and treatment. An American Internet-based study suggests that sufferers are from very different backgrounds and of different ages4.
Several different hypotheses have been put forward to explain this phenomenon: such as an arteriovenous malformation which causes constant and excessive blood flow to the clitoris; an anomaly in the peripheral (genital area) or central (brain) nervous system; or taking or stopping certain medication (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors5), etc.
Research needs to get a move on...
At present there is no approved treatment for this syndrome. Several studies report an improvement by introducing antidepressants, using vasopressin to reduce flow to the clitoris or even electro-convulsive therapy for patients who also suffer from severe depression6.
Many questions remain unanswered. Dr David Goldmeier, a specialist in this rare syndrome at St Mary’s Hospital in London, has made a plea for more research - not only because PSAS is a stressful and embarrassing condition, but also because identifying the causes and the required treatment could help a better understanding of other aspects of female sexuality... In particular, lack of desire and arousal, much more frequently encountered by women.
1 - International Journal of STD & AIDS 2006; 17:215-216
2 - J Sex Marithal Ther 2001; 27:365-80
3 - "Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome," Dr S Ducharme, J Johnson, I Goldstein
4 - J Sex Med 2005; 2:331-337
5 - J Sex Med 2005; 2:743
6 - ISSWSH Conference, Las Vegas Podium, October 2005
Copyright © 2010 Doctissimo
Posted 21.07.2010
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