What Is the Rare Disease Affecting a Woman in Her 20s Who Has Experienced Sexual Arousal Since Age 6?

American Woman in Her 20s Suffering from Rare Disease Since Age 6
'PGAD' Causes Persistent Sexual Arousal and Distress
Neuroproliferative Prefrontal Cortex Likely the Cause

A story about a woman suffering from a rare disease that causes a persistent state of sexual arousal for a long 15 years since she was 6 years old has been shared, drawing sympathy.

On the 25th (local time), major foreign media reported that Scarlet Caitlin Wallen (21), who lives in the United States, has been suffering from Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD) since she was 6 years old. This disease is characterized by a continuous and repetitive sensation of genital arousal and congestion. Recently, it has been occurring not infrequently in Korea as well, often with sudden onset of symptoms. Due to the relentless waves of sexual stimulation, severe cases can lead to exhaustion, and many patients report severe depression.

Scarlet has been experiencing PGAD symptoms since she was 6. She said, "It feels like bugs are burning under my skin," and added, "I get aroused involuntarily and also experience nerve pain. Even when symptoms are not present, the anxiety of not knowing when they will appear makes it difficult to make friends, and I couldn’t spend much time with people." She continued, "PGAD inevitably affected my work and studies," and said, "As time passed, the symptoms did not improve but worsened. Eventually, at 18, I could no longer hide it and confessed to my parents that I was suffering from PGAD."

Afterwards, Scarlet sought treatment at the San Diego Sexual Medicine Clinic in California. There, she learned that in addition to PGAD, she was experiencing several sexual problems including genital numbness caused by antidepressants, and that she had been born with a condition called congenital neural proliferative vestibulitis, where the pelvic nerves are hypersensitive to tactile stimuli.

The medical team treating Scarlet identified congenital neural proliferative vestibulitis as the cause triggering PGAD. Currently, Scarlet has undergone surgery to remove part of the genital nerves causing pain, and she is continuing treatment with the goal of experiencing normal sexual desire and having a normal sex life.