Recently, I read an Esquire article written by a woman who claimed to be perpetually aroused. Rather than enjoying her revved up libido, she described it as more of a nuisance. (“My whole vagina felt like a pressure cooker about to go off any minute—but it wouldn’t.”) Although there was reference to a medical condition—persistent sexual arousal syndrome—my first suspicion was that the article was a hoax, fabricated by a male writer who wanted his fantasy girl to come alive, at least on page. Less likely, but still plausible, was that maybe this was just one horny girl—the high school slut, the housewife who stands a little too long next to the washing machine on spin cycle. Whatever her affliction, certainly it couldn’t be any different from those masses of men who masturbate four to five times a day to Penthouse, Hustler, and other assorted whack rags. Or could it?
There actually is something called persistent sexual arousal syndrome (PSAS), and though it has surely existed as long as men have had priapism (painful, persistent erection of the penis), it wasn’t documented in clinical literature until 2001. The condition is thought to be extremely rare and, because of its intimate, anomalous nature, underreported.
Though the Esquire article describes the condition as a “burning desire to masturbate,” lack of sexual desire and interest is actually more like it. Afflicted women are not hypersexual or nymphomaniacs; instead they are plagued by spontaneous, intrusive, and unwanted genital arousal that never seems to cease.
A woman can relieve herself by having an orgasm, but not for long. The feeling persists, and can be an uncomfortable nuisance that disrupts work, relationships, and daily activities. The feeling of arousal can last for days or even years, resulting in serious personal distress. Various medications, including anti-depressants and hormonal therapy, have been used to try to treat PSAS, but currently there is no standard of care. This is because no one really knows what causes or triggers PSAS. Some women’s symptoms appear after discontinuing SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), a type of anti-depressant; others have been triggered by stress, or a brain injury.
