PERSISTENT SEXUAL AROUSAL SYNDROME

Persistent sexual arousal syndrome, a female sexual arousal disorder, is defined as feelings of spontaneous, persistent and intense genital arousal with or without orgasm, with or without genital engorgement, in the absence of sexual desire. This rare and unique sexual arousal problem is extremely distressing for women who experience it and many do not report this sexual complaint to physicians because of embarrassment, humiliation, shame and frustration. Feelings of arousal are usually very powerful and extreme and persist for extended periods (hours, days or weeks). Orgasm may provide several hours of relief but in most women with persistent sexual arousal syndrome, the forceful arousal symptoms soon return. Women who have persistent sexual arousal syndrome cannot concentrate on even mundane projects - the severe arousal thoughts are impossible to ignore and overwhelm the patient's attention.

Evaluation of a women suspected of having persistent sexual arousal syndrome involves a detailed psychologic evaluation, sexual, medical and psychosocial history, physical examination, laboratory tests of blood hormone levels and specialized testing of genital sensation and genital blood flow. Treatment may involve psychologic counseling with cognitive reframing of the arousal as a healthy response. Some patients have achieved some success simply by discontinuing medication such as trazodone, which is known to cause a similar syndrome in men. Some physicians have utilized antidepressants, anti-androgenic agents and anaesthetising gels. To date, no one cause for persistent sexual arousal syndrome has been identified as a consequence several different treatments have been suggested.

There is currently research in this area being conducted by Dr. Sandra Leiblum, a psychologist and researcher at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, UMDNJ. If you are interested in participating in her survey of women with PSAS, please click HERE.

Women with persistent sexual arousal syndrome should be taken seriously and undergo detailed evaluation investigating multiple biologic and pharmacologic causes. The Boston Globe recently published a feature in their Science section on Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome. To read the article, click HERE.


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