DISCLAIMER: I will be talking about a medical condition that effects sexual organs and thus will be mentioning sexual biology. This is NOT an erotic post, this is a real medical condition that effects people of all ages, especially victims of sexual assault. If that makes you uncomfortable, I recommend you don't interact with this post. Thank you.
I want to make some sort of awareness for a medical condition I didn't even know existed until I found out I have it.
PGAD (or Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder) is a type of sexual dysfunction that almost exclusively effects people assigned female at birth, however people assigned male at birth can still be effected.
It's characterized by random and completely uncontrollable genital arousal, however it's not a good or sexual feeling and it's experienced without desire. The feeling is similar to when you've been sitting on your foot for an hour or two and it feels swollen and like it's being stuck with pins and needles all over. The feeling is really more similar to sexual assault than what most people associate with arousal because it feels like unwanted sexual stimulation that you did not give consent for.
Unfortunately, this condition is a syndrome, which means it describes a group of people who are all having the same (or very similar) symptoms, however there isn't one singular cause. Instead, it's a symptom of another underlying condition. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to do good research on because it's unknown how many cases there actually are. Not only is it difficult to diagnose, but a lot of people either don't realize this isn't normal or simply are uncomfortable with being diagnosed.
Some things that may possibly csuse it are epilepsy (and certain types of seizures), nerve damage to the genitalia, pelvic floor dysfunction (your pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, etc. that not only helps to keep your organs from collapsing but also controls muscles in the female genitalia, and for both men and women is the muscles you use for going to the bathroom, giving birth, things like that), psychological symptoms from sexual abuse (this can even be verbal sexual abuse as it still would cause your muscles to tense up as a trauma response), and a lot of other stuff.
In my case, it seems to be caused by pelvic floor dysfunction which I developed after an injury to my coccyx (tailbone) in a car accident. I've had several smaller injuries to my coccyx, including one earlier this year when I slipped and fell flat on my back thanks to a water leak in my apartment. Aside from the injuries, I believe it's caused by Epilepsy and sexual abuse from my groomer. Interestingly enough, the majority of people (especially afab) who suffer from the condition were sexually abused, especially under the age of 18 (I was 16 so I fit into this group).
I also have other issues with my pelvic floor, i.e. levator ani syndrome, which is sudden spasms in the levator ani muscles (the base of the pelvic floor which is the main part you use for going to the bathroom, sexual health, holding up your other organs and so on). This condition in itself can be a cause for PGAD, unfortunately. Both conditions can cause an uncomfortable feeling in the genetalia (and levator ani syndrome makes it feel like someone shoved a watermelon in your butt 💔).
As I say as often as I can, I am NOT a doctor of medicine or of any sort. However, I do have physical experience with these conditions and I'm using ad much research as I possibly can to give you guys this information. My goal is to make as many people as possible aware of these conditions, as well as possibly helping others who have the condition of giving people will similar symptoms something to ask about when they see a doctor. I can't diagnose you, I can't physically help you, but I can try my best to help make the world a better place.
I will try to answer any questions I can if anyone had them, though like I said I am NOT a doctor, so please know that I cannot give you any kind of treatment. I can, however, share my coping mechanisms and things of the sort.
