International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 20, Number 8 > Pp. 519-521

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Original research articles

Report of spontaneous and persistent genital arousal in women attending a sexual health clinic

L J Garvey MBChB MRCP ^*  , C West RN ^*, N Latch BN , S Leiblum PhD  and D Goldmeier MD FRCP ^*

^* Jefferiss Wing, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust; Division of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK; Private Practice, NJ, USA

Correspondence to: Dr L J Garvey, Jefferiss Wing, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK Email: lucy.garvey{at}imperial.nhs.uk

The frequency of spontaneous genital arousal (GA) and persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) in women is unknown. The aim of this study was to conduct an anonymous survey to assess the frequency and nature of spontaneous GA and PGAD in women attending a walk-in sexual health clinic in London. Female patients completed a questionnaire, which included demographic information, medical, psychiatric and gynaecology history, the hospital anxiety and depression scale, and a somatization scale. Patients were then asked to complete three questions regarding spontaneous and persistent GA. Any patient with one or more symptoms then answered questions about the distress, intensity and duration of sensations. Ninety-six subjects participated. The mean age was 28.97 years. Thirty-two women (33.3%) answered ‘yes’ to at least one question regarding spontaneous or persistent GA and six women (6.3%) women answered ‘yes’ to all three questions. Only one subject fulfilled all five diagnostic criteria for PGAD. In conclusion, women report a high rate of spontaneous GA in the absence of desire or excitement. This has not been well described previously. A small proportion of women report multiple features of spontaneous and persistent GA, with chronicity over years, but without distress in most cases. Larger studies are needed.

Key Words: sexual arousal • persistent genital arousal disorder • women

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