User:Epaniagua2000/Persistent genital arousal disorder

*Italicized text is from original article*

Diagnosis
The following five criteria must be met by patients in order to be diagnosed with PGAD:


 * 1) Typical physiological responses from sexual arousal persist for an extended amount of time and do not cease on their own
 * 2) Feelings of arousal remain even after orgasm or multiple orgasms are needed to lessen the arousal
 * 3) Arousal is experienced without desire or sexual excitement
 * 4) Arousal occurs with both sexual and non-sexual stimuli or with no stimuli
 * 5) Symptoms are intrusive, unwanted, and cause distress

Treatment
''Because PGAD has only been researched since 2001, there is little documenting what may cure or remedy the disorder. Treatment may include extensive psychotherapy, psycho-education, and pelvic floor physical therapy. In one case, serendipitous relief of symptoms was concluded from treatment with varenicline, a treatment for nicotine addiction.'' It was reported in a study that masturbation (51%), orgasm (50%), distraction (39%), intercourse (36%), exercise (25%), and cold compresses (13%) were the most relieving treatments that could be done without the help of a professional.

Having a team of professionals such as a medical provider, a pelvic floor physical therapist, and sex therapist has shown to aid patients. One study found that after working with professionals patients felt validated, listened to, and that their sexual function had improved. Many patients felt practicing mindfulness allowed them to adjust to living with PGAD by recognizing thoughts and emotions corresponding to the symptoms and avoiding brooding over them. This treatment method focuses on reducing the anxiety that is caused by the condition and pushes the patient to develop effective distraction and relaxation techniques.

Mental Health
Women with PGAD report having unstable mental health with thoughts of suicide and difficulty completing daily activities. Before the start of their PGAD, many women were seen to have higher stress scores as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety. Panic attacks (31.6%) and major depression (57.9%) were reported commonalities between patients occurring at least one year prior to the onset of PGAD symptoms. Up to 45% of women with the disorder have reported having a history with antidepressants.

A small study found that several women began to see symptoms of PGAD after discontinuing the use of their selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It is not known whether reintroduction of the SSRIs would improve PGAD symptoms.

Epidemiology
PGAD is very rare and is believed to affect about 1% of women. Although online surveys have indicated that hundreds of women may have PGAD, documented case studies have been limited to about 22.