Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)
Search Knowledge Base by Keyword
Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)
Persistent genital arousal syndrome (PGAD) is spontaneous, persistent, unwanted, and uncontrollable genital arousal in the absence of sexual stimulation or sexual desire. The arousal symptoms of PGAD can be experienced all or most of the time, and in some cases, intermittently. This is typically not relieved by orgasm. 40% of people with PGAD describe their sensations as painful. PGAD was previously called persistent sexual arousal syndrome.
Five Criteria That Can be Used to Diagnose Symptoms of PGAD:
- Spontaneous and persistent.
- Unwanted and intrusive.
- Provoked by non-sexual factors and unrelated to desire.
- Not dissipating following orgasm.
- Distressing to the patient.
PGAD can severely affect a person’s quality of life.
Psychological Symptoms that Impact Someone Suffering From PGAD:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Distress
- Frustration
- Guilt
- Panic attacks
- Insomnia
The causes of PGAD are often unknown.
Theories of the Causes of PGAD:
- Restless leg syndrome/vascular insufficiency/neurovascular dysfunction causing clitoral congestion.
- Neurological hypersensitivity.
- Tarlov Cysts: Sacs filled with spinal fluid that appear on the sacral nerve root.
- Endocrinal PGAD: If cyclical, may be estrogen or progesterone dominant.
- Changes in hormones or medications.
- Trauma to the central nervous system.
- Tourette’s syndrome.
- High tone or overactivity of the pelvic floor muscles.
When physiotherapists use a biopsychosocial approach, there is an acknowledgment that there is can be a blend of tissue dysfunction and psychosocial factors that contribute to symptoms. This thorough assessment will help target the right ‘driver’ of a patient’s symptoms.
Pelvic health physiotherapy can be an integral part of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of symptoms associated with PGAD.
Treatments May Include:
- Improving pelvic floor proprioception/awareness sense.
- Deep breathing and relaxation.
- Vulvar skin health education.
- Address bowel and bladder function.
- Treatment of the nervous system.
- Body mapping.
- Therapeutic exercise.
- External myofascial techniques, including connective tissue dysfunction.
- Internal myofascial techniques (gentle, pain-free internal work to help decrease pelvic floor over-activity/tension).
- Pain education.
Persistent pain education is an important part of treating pelvic floor dysfunction since the pelvic floor is an area that we often hold tension. Anxiety, stress and our thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs can perpetuate the pain in our pelvis. Understanding how our pain system works has shown to be an effective way of reducing the threat of ongoing pelvic floor dysfunction.
-
-
Incontinence: Urinary and Fecal
-
Facts and Myths About Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening (Kegels) for Females (Or If You Have a Vulva/Vagina)
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening (Kegels) for Males (or if you have a Penis)
-
The Knack
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Bladder Irritants
-
-
-
Bowel Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening (Kegels) for Females (Or If You Have a Vulva/Vagina)
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening (Kegels) for Males (or if you have a Penis)
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Constipation
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
-
-
Persistent Pelvic Pain
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Laughter
-
Sleep
-
Nutrition and Persistent Pain
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Pudendal Nerve Irritation
-
Self-Treatment Techniques for Foam Rolling
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
-
Endometriosis
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Laughter
-
Sleep
-
Nutrition and Persistent Pain
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Self-Treatment Techniques for Foam Rolling
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
-
Dysmenorrhea (Painful Periods)
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Laughter
-
Sleep
-
Nutrition and Persistent Pain
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Self-Treatment Techniques for Foam Rolling
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
-
Vaginismus
-
Accommodators and Dilators
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Lubricants and Moisturizers
-
Vulvar Care
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Sleep
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Laughter
-
Nutrition and Persistent Pain
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Self-Treatment Techniques for Foam Rolling
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
-
Vulvodynia
-
Vulvar Care
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Laughter
-
Sleep
-
Nutrition and Persistent Pain
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Self-Treatment Techniques for Foam Rolling
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
-
Dyspareunia
-
Vulvar Care
-
Accommodators and Dilators
-
Lubricants and Moisturizers
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Laughter
-
Sleep
-
Nutrition and Persistent Pain
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Self-Treatment Techniques for Foam Rolling
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
-
Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS)
-
Diet Modification for IC/BPS
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Laughter
-
Sleep
-
Nutrition and Persistent Pain
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Self-Treatment Techniques for Foam Rolling
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
-
Pudendal Nerve Irritation
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Laughter
-
Sleep
-
Nutrition and Persistent Pain
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Self-Treatment Techniques for Foam Rolling
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
-
Tailbone (Coccyx) Pain
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Sleep
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
-
Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Sleep
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
-
Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis
-
Bladder Irritants
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Laughter
-
Sleep
-
Nutrition and Persistent Pain
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Self-Treatment Techniques for Foam Rolling
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
-
- Articles coming soon
-
-
Lichen Simplex, Sclerosis, and Planus
-
Accommodators and Dilators
-
Lubricants and Moisturizers
-
Vulvar Care
-
Pelvic Tissue Dysfunction
-
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness
-
Deep Breathing Exercises
-
Reverse Kegels (Pelvic Floor Drops)
-
Sensitive Nervous System
-
Types of Pain
-
Understanding Pain Better
-
Laughter
-
Sleep
-
Nutrition and Persistent Pain
-
Connective Tissue Dysfunction
-
What Are My Myofascial Tender Points?
-
Pain Education in a Nutshell
-
Catastrophization
-
You may also like
test
test