The unnamed 20-year-old has lived with constant sexual arousal for five years.
The condition has caused her severe distress.
It left her unable to attend school or work.
She also found it extremely hard to maintain relationships.
Her symptoms first appeared when she was 14 years old.
She initially felt heightened sensitivity and believed others could read her thoughts.
Those issues led to hospitalization for depressive and psychotic symptoms.
Anti-epileptic and psychiatric medicines did not stop her symptoms.
She sought medical help for continuous orgasms.
Neurologists performed EEG monitoring and physical examinations.
They ruled out epilepsy and found no structural abnormalities.
The symptoms have been debilitating for the young woman (Getty Stock Image)
The woman, from China, received a diagnosis of persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD).
PGAD causes ongoing genital arousal without sexual desire or stimulation.
It can severely disrupt daily life.
“The sexual arousal symptoms are characterized by recurrent and spontaneous orgasmic experiences,” explained Jing Yan and Dafang Ouyang of the Peking University Sixth Hospital in Beijing.
Their team reported the case in a study.
The exact cause of PGAD is not well understood.
Doctors first formally described the condition in 2001.
Although considered rare, it affects more women than men.
The Cleveland Clinic says PGAD affects around 1% of women in the US.
Experts believe it remains under-diagnosed.
Symptoms can include pressure, throbbing, burning, itching, or pins and needles.
“PGAD doesn’t feel good in the way that sexual arousal does. Sexual arousal feels good, in part because you desire the physical sensations. Desire is a key part of a healthy sexual response.
Also, you can feel comforted that feelings of release and normalcy will follow the physical experience of heightened sexual tension.
PGAD is different in that you lack control over feelings of arousal, and you don’t know when your body will experience relief or return to its baseline.”
Source: Cleveland Clinic.
Doctors are still searching for clear answers about PGAD.
Possible triggers include nerve damage, spinal abnormalities, or medication side effects.
“Some studies have suggested that PGAD might be triggered by changes in the use of antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin-norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors,” the publication explains.
Research has also suggested a link to an imbalance in dopamine.
Dopamine plays a key role in the brain’s arousal and reward systems.
Currently, there is no known cure for PGAD.