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Medical Mystery: Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome
Tue, February 26, 2008 - 4:06 PM
If you thought "Grey's Anatomy" writers invented Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS), think again.
PSAS, identified and named just six years ago, remains a mysterious condition that thousands of women wish they didn't have. They are constantly on the edge of orgasm regardless of time, place or circumstance. And while this situation might sound desirable, funny or just plain weird it is actually akin to being a prisoner: a nightmarish reality where a woman's body acts independently of her own desires.
We spoke with four women who all experience unwanted sexual sensations. Heather Dearmon, Nancy Austin, and two women who requested anonymity (referred to as Lauren and Emily) all suffer from unintended sexual arousal.
"It's unwanted sexual sensations in your vagina," Dearmon said.
"And sex doesn't help it," Lauren said. "Orgasm doesn't relieve it, sometimes it makes it stronger. This is to me, irritating, torture."
"You spend a lot of time avoiding situations that will set you off," Austin chimed in.
Dr. Irwin Goldstein, a professor of surgery at UC San Diego and the head of the Sexual Health Program at Alvarado Hospital, is one of the few researchers studying it.
"It's spontaneous, intrusive, and unwanted genital arousal — consisting of throbbing, pulsing or tingling without the person's sexual interest or desire," Dr. Goldstein said.
Tue, February 26, 2008 - 4:06 PM -
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7 Comments
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Tue, February 26, 2008 - 4:40 PM
At first I thought "wow, sounds great". Is this what it's like to be a man? But it must be really difficult to live with day to day. Maybe the study and work into this condition will help women who can't have an orgasm...you never know.
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Thu, February 28, 2008 - 11:56 AM
i thought it was called "itchy"
seriously, I've been informed by male friends that some men have been forced to have sex with their girlfriends because their gf was "itchy."
its hard to believe the torture some guys go through for love. i'm a confusing example, but I tend to believe it because I feel both very sexually motivated and socially anxious most of the time...It frustrates me that science is unable to furnish sufficient response. medication makes me more comfortable with myself, but can't fix my physical responses which makes my anxiety worse. |
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Sat, March 1, 2008 - 1:42 PM
Sounds like these girls are lucky, just maybe need to embrace and except the intensity of their sexuality more?
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Tue, March 4, 2008 - 7:50 AM
Different thoughts
Well, I happen to be one of those women.
Not very intense arousals, but there I will be, walking around at work, and BAM, my clitoris throbs to life (for a reason unknown to me) and it'll go on and on for hours. This happens to me sometimes 4-5 times a day (with varied lengths of arousal). But you know what? I am actually enjoying it ESPECIALLY thanking the fact that I am a woman, and that it is not physically noticeable!! I believe that I am very sesitive to energy shifts and openings, and my sexual desires pump up when I intercept those invisible energies. I do NOT believe it is a "problem" or "dysfunction" in women. I believe there is a reason behind the occurance, but that no one is really aware of it yet. Advice: Embrace it, enjoy it, and feel and expand your power through it. Pleasure yourself if you can. |
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Unsu...
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Mon, April 28, 2008 - 10:59 PM
OMFG!
Wow, and I thought I was just crazy all of these years. yeah, I totally get the gist of continuous arousal. The condition can really be an embarrassment and suck.
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Fri, June 6, 2008 - 9:08 AM
I have it in jags. It must be very similar to how a teen boy feels when sex is all he can think about hehe. Watch out when I'm on one of my
jags of it : ) It goes on a month or twin even walking in tight jeans that cause a bit of a camel toe hehe feels good. |
