My Hidden Shame: The Struggle of Living with Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder

This article intends to bring more awareness to the little-known struggle of individuals with Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder or PGAD. The title injects my personal feelings by leading with “My Hidden Shame.” Before we delve into some of my thoughts and the impact of this disorder on my life and participation in the BDSM lifestyle, let’s first cover the science and facts related to the condition.

Photo by Mathieu Stern on Unsplash

What is Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder?

The National Institute of Health (NIH) defines the disorder as a syndrome that causes spontaneous, persistent, and uncontrollable genital arousal. PGAD can occur with or without orgasm, engorgement of the genitals, or even having any thoughts, desires, or feelings of sexual desire.

Imagine some of these scenarios:

1. You’re at the grocery store and trying to quickly get a week’s worth of groceries and complete other tasks. You go down the list and find the products you need. Your trying to think about the problem you need to resolve with a bill when you get home and will need to call the bank. You grab a bag of potatoes in the produce section, and suddenly, your entire body convulses momentarily as you orgasm uncontrollably.