Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome is a rare disorder found in women. It results in a spontaneous and persistant of genital arousal, with or without orgasm or genital engorgement, unrelated to any feelings of sexual desire. In particular, it is not related to nymphomania. In addition to being very rare the condition is also frequently unreported by sufferers who may consider it shameful or embarassing. It has only recently been reported and characterized as a distinct syndrome in medical literature.
Physical arousal caused by this syndrome can be very intense and persist for extended periods, days or weeks at a time. Orgasm can sometimes provide temporary relief, but within hours the symptoms return. The symptoms can be debilitating, preventing concentration on mundane tasks. Some situations, such as riding in an automobile, can aggravate the syndrome unbearably.
Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome can have a variety of causes. Some drugs such as trazodone may cause it as a side effect, in which case discontinuing the medication may give relief. In at least one recorded case, the syndrome was caused by a pelvic arterial-venous malformation with arterial branches to the clitoris; surgical treatment was effective in this case. In other cases where the cause is unknown or less easily treatable, the symptoms themselves can sometimes be reduced by the use of antidepressants, antiandrogenic agents and anaesthetising gels. Psychological counselling with cognitive reframing of the arousal as a healthy response may also be used.
