Let's face it, ladies. When it comes to orgasms, even the sex gods can't help us get off. According to a Durex survey, nearly 70 percent women don't achieve the big O. And then there's the other side of the spectrum. Women who orgasm at the slightest of triggers like hitting a pothole on a road or even escalators. It is not funny because they have a medical condition known as PGAD (Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder). A 61-year-old UK mom Maria has PGAD. She reveals that can't control her orgasms, even when she feels no sexual desire. Her orgasm can trigger by things people do in their daily life, for example, if she drives on a pothole or gets on an escalator. "Most of the time I feel like I am sitting on an ant’s nest. There’s times where it’s a tickle all day, but then something sets it off and it’s a full-blown orgasm. Driving over potholes, aircraft turbulence, escalators, the vibration from violins – I don’t know how many women could say they went to a Shania Twain concert and she made them orgasm." Erection for Continuous Two-Days Causes Indian Man to Have His Penis Amputated After He Develops Gangrene; What Is Priapism?

What is PGAD (Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder)?

PGAD is an abbreviation for Persistent genital arousal disorder. It is a phenomenon highly misunderstood relating to women sexual health. In the case of PGAD, women usually complain of sudden and frequent genital arousal and it may not be similar to the "kind of sexual arousal that is associated with desire, or subjective arousal." Studies define PGAD as "a phenomenon, in which afflicted women experience spontaneous genital arousal, unresolved by orgasms and triggered by sexual or nonsexual stimuli, eliciting stress." The genital arousal is usually spontaneous, and uncontainable and can even happen to men. It is important to note that the person's arousal is not linked to sexual desire and even masturbation and orgasms offer no relief.

PGAD (Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder) Symptoms

It's difficult for people to initially understand the problem. Therefore the symptoms are usually misunderstood or diagnosed late. However, symptoms include a series of sensation that might cause discomfort around the pelvic area, genitalia, clitoris, vagina, labia, perineum, and even anus. The feeling of discomfort is collectively called dysesthesias.

Symptoms:

  • Pressure

  • Feeling of wetness

  • Uncomfortable itching

  • Burning sensation

  • Felling of pins and needles

Usually, it is the long term symptoms that affect the person more than the immediate symptoms. It usually includes psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, stress, panic attacks, frustration, guilt, etc.

PGAD is often confused with Priapism, PSAS, and sometimes even hypersexuality. It is important to understand that persistent sexual arousal syndrome is not linked to sexual desire in any way. Whereas hypersexuality is characterised by an excessive desire with or without genital arousal.

PSAD, on the other hand, manifests as persistent genital arousal in the absence of desire. Whereas priapism is a type of persistent genital arousal disorder in men, which causes an unrelenting penile erection without sexual desire. PGAD doesn't mean an elevated need for sexual gratification, otherwise known as satyriasis in males or nymphomania in females. According to a study, "the condition was formerly known as Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS), but the name was changed to PGAD as PSAS suggests active sexual desire."

Managing the symptoms is the most difficult part of PGAD. The woman's quality of life is affected, where she's afraid to venture out for the fear of embarrassing herself. Many who suffer from the condition never speak out or live their lives as recluses.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2019 08:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).