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Subscribe to RSSThe other day, a few media outlets in the New York region covered the story of a woman who can’t seem to stop having orgasms, which would seem joke-ready but can actually be a nightmare.
While the New Jersey woman’s condition has not been formally diagnosed, it appears she has persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), something we explored years ago.
The syndrome usually manifests as a constant blood engorgement of the female genitals, mainly the clitoris. This creates a sensation of needing “relief.” Cue the jokes. But imagine constantly sensing the need for orgasm at work, on the bus, while visiting with friends, and then finding no relief, or only very temporary relief, if you masturbate. Genitals can become highly sensitive, and sore. Sufferers describe feelings of isolation and mental anguish.
Unfortunately, nobody is quite sure what causes it or how to treat it, but, according to Jim Pfaus, a researcher at Montreal’s Concordia University who studies the neuroscience of sexual response, and who is currently engaged in studying persistent genital arousal, there are enough clues to develop a working theory.
“The root cause,” he explained, “may be an irritation of the clitoral sensory nerves.” The brain interprets this sensation and sets off a cascade of events.
A brain region called the pro-optic area responds to dopamine signaling by sending out instructions for the body to prepare for sex, as if a woman has been engaged in foreplay when, in fact, she’s not remotely in a sexual context. Blood flows to the genitals. “So we think that this blood flow is in a state of hyperarousal in women with PGAD,” Pfaus said. “They get engorgement quickly, reach orgasm quickly when they try to relieve themselves. It shares features with premature ejaculation and priapism” in men.
That’s consistent with observations others have made. For example, Barry Komisaruk at Rutgers University found that of a group of 18 women with PGAD, 12 had cysts on nerves in the sacral region of their spines. The cysts may be stimulating clitoral nerves.
A variety of drug therapies (there’s even one report of a physical therapy involving manipulation of muscles in the region) have shown to help. SSRIs, commonly used for depression, seem to provide some relief. But Pfaus believes the drug varenicline (Chantix, commonly used for smoking cessation) is most promising. It works by interrupting the signaling that leads to dopamine release. Blood stops flowing.
While the therapy has worked in scores of women, Pfaus said, the drug isn’t perfect. “Unfortunately it comes back when they go off it.”
Brian Alexander (www.BrianRAlexander.com) is co-author, with Larry Young PhD., of "The Chemistry Between Us: Love, Sex and the Science of Attraction," (www.TheChemistryBetweenUs.com) to be published Sept. 13.
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Queue the jokes? Ok. Constantly needing and seeking relief? Sounds like shes turning into a man.
Chantix has some pretty nasty sideeffects. I hope they find a better treament than this. If the spinal nerves are the culprit then maybe seeing a chiropractor would be a better idea.
Oh, Oh, OOOOOH MY GOD that is weird.
Do you think she is faking?
Best orgasm joke:
Wiggle it, just a little bit.
Imagine having a woodie all the time... that can't be fun.
I was just about to say, "Welcome to manhood"... Yes it can be annoying!
If a man has an erection for more than 4 hours, he is supposed to seek medical attention. But a woman's genitals being constantly engorged (24/7) is funny? By reading the comments on this article it wold seem that the hallmark for manhood is a complete lack of compassion and tact. By that standard it appears she has a long way to go before you can welcome her to your "manhood" club. You all laugh, but this would be humiliating if a similar thing happened to you (constant erection which would be the direct equivalent). And any man who has suffered from that knows it is painful and not funny at all.
oh shut up you nag. Geez.
See dictionary under "Blue Balls"
fuzzybearslippers.... the Viagra warning is in all likelihood a sales pitch dreamed up by some ad agency. What better schtick than to make a guy think he can keep it up for hours, wouldn't that be delightful.
The Viagra warning is very real and, aside from organ failure, a man who takes Viagra risks never getting an erection again. The man that can't get it down after a certain amount of time must have blood pumped out of it, then risks spending his life walking around with a semi-hard-on--no pleasure in it being erect, either. That's just the result of the damage done to the penis, along with an inability to ever achieve a full erection again.
StandUpJokeOff is right--the Viagra warning IS very real! My husband is a retired physician, and yes, it is a medical emergency!
Lighten up fuzzybearslippers... she isn't aroused 24/7 just much much more than a woman and the symptoms sound a lot like just being a man. Men can be sitting in a meeting and all the sudden they have a rager for no good reason, happens all the time.
fuzzybearslippers
You are actually talking about two entirely different physiologies. The blood vessels to the clitoris are smaller and also do not contain the same "valve system" that prevents back flow of blood as occurs in the penis. These vessels can be irreversibly damaged in the penis if the blood is pooled in the area for more than 4 hrs. This is simply not the case with the clitoris which can remain in the engorged state with out damage to the organ.
Come, come, this isn't a laughing matter...
fuzzbear you have been watching too many viagra commercials. i have gone 17 days with an erection and no harm done. please stop spreading mis-information.
Hours???
I went through 4 years of college with an erection. But telling a girl at the keg "I needed relief" didnt work out as often as I wouldve liked.
This is a serious problem for some people, and it deserves a serious conversation. If I were constantly aroused, I'd not be enjoying it. These people are suffering. I'd say this issue is as serious a problem as not being able to be aroused at all. The extremes of the arousal abilities are not a good thing.
I don't know anything about this condition, but I do know nymphomania can be cured by marriage.
Re: DIRTYDOG 200 Comment...LOL!!!
Seriously, I want to be a "researcher at Montreal’s Concordia University who studies the neuroscience of sexual response in women", in my next life. I would really get into my work.
"The syndrome usually manifests as a constant blood engorgement of the female genitals, mainly the clitoris. This creates a sensation of needing “relief.” Cue the jokes."
Now you know how we feel... That's called being a man
Actually the title of this article is misleading. She is not having orgasms all the time, just being aroused all the time. Like having a woodie 24/7. Hardly (he he...) a good thing to have.
Not if you have to give a speech or presentation with no podium.
what, no video?
I'm sure you're all fapping to this without it.
Hmmm, every woman I've date had this problem, but it stopped for them when we stopped dating.
Aren't you the macho man?
They might have been faking, maybe that's why the dating stopped.
Just have her go to bed with her husband. If they are real orgasms that will stop them instantaneously.
soooooo.... WHO is she and WHEN can I meet her
You people are sick! Just kidding - it's pretty funny. Really takes the pressure off of that 1st date.
50 Shades of gray. Put the book down!
So is this what you call "Blue Lips?!"
Nope, Blue hole
my comment was better.
I have a lot of sympathy for anyone who has this condition. However, please do not take Chantix for this condition, or to quit smoking. There is evidence that the medication can cause people to become homicidal.
I take Chantix right now for smoking cessation.
The only homicidal thoughts I get are when people say stupid crap -if strangling someone with my bare hands so I can see the expression on their face as I scream, "You're a f***n' idiot!" can be considered "homicidal."
this is a serious condition and should not be made fun of. i lost my first two ex wives and my last 6 girlfriends to this condition. drat i see hannibalektr beat me to it.
Medicine to CURE the condition? Why on earth would they want to do that?
It is an obsessive compulsive behavior...a mental condition for which one needs a psychiatric evaluation. It is not natural for a person to be having uncontrollable sexual arousal. What happens is that the brain is in an endless cycle of triggering release of chemicals that lead to sexual arousal.
Your point being?
Women have orgasms? Who knew? I always thought the female orgasm was a myth. Personally, I've never seen it happen.
Tony, that says a lot more about you than about the frequency or existence of female orgasm...lol. Sorry, but perhaps it's only a myth for men who don't have technique, are willing to take directions, and care about their partner's satisfaction.
Sorry to hear that Tony.
That's what your wife said, Tony.
It usually takes them longer than 17 seconds Tony, that's your problem...
Try cunnilingus.
Colonel Angus?
This is a serious problem that should be respected and treated seriously. I would love to help any woman suffering from this by offering my oral skills and expertise in clitoral stimulation. If the problem persist, so will I.
Lets take care of this serious problem as soon as possible!!!!
Is this a for profit or a non-profit business? Do you accept Visa or MasterCard?
Profit not nearly as important as hygeine. Just offering our services for a better society.
PayPal preferred.
It must be embarassing with that thing always sticking out from her skirt...... seriously.....
If you have no side effects with the Chantix, then it's perfectly safe to take. After trying to quit smoke hundreds of times over the years, I finally was able to while taking Chantix. Now three years later I know I'll never pick up a cigarette again. I am so thankful that Chantix was available for me. I did not have one side effect from it with the exception of having no craving for nicotine. It worked wonders for me and I hope it helps others with smoking cessation and for women like the one this article was written about.
If your craving was for cigarettes then your condition was probably not as bad as hers because her craving is for Cigars and that too non-stop. She sure deserves a Cuban and not Chantix. ROTFFLMFAO
I know three people who used Chantix and did fine on it, and they were able to stop smoking after years of it. None of them had any negative side effects to speak of at all.
if she's hot, god bless her.
Maybe she should hang out with Bill Clinton.
I'm sorry, but most the posts here are from men, and this isn't funny. I cannot imagine what these women go through during their daily routines. It's a serious health issue.
Grow up. You don't walk around joking about breast cancer. And to the guys posting about their girlfriends....if you have to brag it in a forum....you're not all that.
This ain't breast cancer, this is non-stop sexual arousal in a woman which is funny because women were never known to be sexually aroused like men. ROTFFLMFAO
amediamogul:
Yes, it is a bit humorous. This woman is literally dealing with a condition that is similar to the arousal that men feel a lot -a perpetual urge to have sex, or sexual gratification, but certainly female oriented.
No, it is nothing like breast cancer. Breast cancer is a distructive condition that regularly leads to death after a long, brutal battle that ravages a woman's body.
If you would like to maintain consistency in your statements, then the next time you feel like insulting a man for being aroused all the time and calling him a "dog," remember that--according to your logic--it's like making fun of prostate cancer.
Histrionics.....damn.
I never called men "dogs." I love men. Especially the one I have. That's something you pulled out of nowhere.
And no, this disorder is not funny. The article does not really delve into the seriousness of it, but it's nothing like men being in a "constant state of arousal." That's simply being horny. And women can have just as high sex drives as men if not higher. This is NOT TO BE CONFUSED with a sex drive.
Do some research. Or, I'll do it for you.
"This condition persists for hours, days, or even weeks at a time, and causes significant distress and pain to the sufferer."
"At first glance, the uneducated reader may get the idea that this is a pleasurable disorder to have. Why would extended sexual arousal be a bad thing? The answer is because the physical symptoms are NOT related to any sexual thoughts, desire or activity. In fact, engaging in sexual activity during an episode of PGAD does not relieve the symptoms, and can make the condition more severe."
If you continue to read, a sufferer explains how it is wrecking her life and that they are PAINFUL not PLEASURABLE orgasms.
Sufferers of this are not desiring sex. You're confusing the two.
I'm really sorry to wreck your fantasy boys.
sparrowlet.hubpages.com/hub/pgad-gental-arousal-disorder
There's your source, btw.
Actually, I would expect nothing less than for the guys on here to go the humor route. They're having a lot more fun with this than they wood [intended] replying to all the political articles.
They're pigs, and work hard to retain that title.
@ Kevin C-752389 Great Joke!
@ amediamogul Chill!
amediamogul @19.3:"I never called men "dogs." I love men. Especially the one I have. That's something you pulled out of nowhere."
You're nitpicking insignificant minutae.
You equated this woman's condition with breast cancer. I laughed in your face for it. Interesting how you glossed over and ignored your histrionics on that matter, choosing instead to bitch about a single term I used rather than addressing the substance of your false comparison.
"And no, this disorder is not funny."
Yeah it is. Not hysterically funny, but certainly mildly amusing.
Not every "woman problem" needs a bunch of handwringing or wailing wall hysterics, all done in soft-focus while sad music plays in the background.
If this mosly happens when she sneezes, it is easily treated with an inhaler charged with finely ground black pepper.
How about this for adding to the seriousness of it...at least one woman has been recorded to have committed suicide because she could not live with having to deal with this (and her husband had divorced her because of it). Anything that causes serious depression-whether in men or women-needs to be treated seriously. This is NOT funny in the least.
Maybe they can find a way to temporarily reverse engineer it.
They have....."diamond jewelry" is a well known trigger.
She should be happy with what she has got. A lot of women are unable to get a single orgasm. While she may be praying that her orgasms stop, she will regret it when they do stop because "you never knew you had a good thing till you lost it".
at Bimbo ... Based on your tag name, I assume you're a female. Can not believe you said that ... "She should be happy with what she's got". What a piece of work. Hope you love every aspect of your life. If not, Learn to. You should be happy with what you've got.
Bimbo--your above comment shows a complete lack of scientific understanding of what the article described.
Lisa C-5522681 I doubt any of these peeps actually READ the article....too many big words for them!!!
She obviously has more orgasms than she needs.
It is time for the government to confiscate some of these excess orgasms and distribute them to women who have no orgasms.
So the little man in the boat has decided to remain standing for the whole ride and never sit down? Wow, just wow!
She should say hi to every nurd and tell them what happen, it would make there life a happy ending!
Pierce it!
I need the address and physical statistics please. Sounds like a party waiting to happen.
Are we all invited to CUM?