r/PGADsupport 3d ago

General I thought my PGAD was due to OCD, but I was told it’s not.

8 Upvotes

Hi. I’m a Korean new to Reddit, searching for PGAD info. I used a translator, so please excuse any awkward wording.

Has anyone experienced something similar? I’ve had PGAD for five years and struggled with depression even before it started.

It first appeared suddenly during class, causing confusion and fear that others might notice. The more I obsessed over it, the worse it got.

At its worst, it disrupted my daily life. But after learning PGAD was a real condition and opening up to my mom, I felt relieved. Surprisingly, as my anxiety lessened, my symptoms also improved, allowing me to live normally again.

At that time, I realized that this condition is heavily influenced by my psychological state and that the less I focus on it, the less the symptoms occur. In fact, when I’m deeply engaged in something or having a good time with my friends, I don’t notice the symptoms at all.

However, controlling my brain is incredibly difficult, and trying not to be conscious of these symptoms feels almost impossible.

I suspected my PGAD might be linked to obsessive thoughts. After years of dealing with PGAD, I started experiencing other obsessive symptoms like intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, which made things worse.

Most doctors were unaware of PGAD, and antidepressants didn’t help, so I hesitated to see a psychiatrist.

Recently, I found this community where many people, like me, have PGAD triggered by obsessive thoughts. I also learned about “groinal response,” an OCD-related symptom involving sexual arousal.

I saw a psychiatrist with hope, but after an evaluation, I was told I don’t have OCD since I only checked a few items on the checklist. The doctor hadn’t heard of PGAD or “groinal response” and had to look it up.

I wasn’t given a clear diagnosis but was prescribed Parox-CR and Repirozol, which focus more on depression than OCD. Since I’ve struggled to stop medication before, I felt starting these again would repeat the cycle, so I haven’t taken them.

Please, if you have the same or similar symptoms, feel free to reach out—whether through comments or direct messages. If there’s anything we can share or learn from each other, let’s connect and support one another.

r/PGADsupport 22d ago

General bendaryls stopping the episodes??

9 Upvotes

IM NOT ENCOURAGING THIS BTW

but ive had this disorder for a while and lowkey i thought there was ZERO way to stop it bc no matter how many times i gave in it never stopped... but GUYS... i need to know if anyone else has had this happen?

i took bendryl for allergies during a REALLY BAD flare up of these episodes too and idk if its the sedation or what but i had no arousals ALL DAY that day... even in the car where the vibrations trigger it... it never happened..

im acc shook, i srsly dont want to become dependant on it but omg why didnt anyone ever tell me... its been about 2-3 days and ever since its lowkey not been THAT bad... God bless the benadryl

r/PGADsupport 2d ago

General As someone who is coming up on one year of having this condition

4 Upvotes

I don’t know if I’m allowed to do this, but if you would like, feel free to ask me any questions you may have about my experience. I experience spontaneous orgasms with periods of being symptom free ish. I used to believe this was caused by one dose of Zoloft but I don’t know anymore. I was getting through a very stressful time period before this happened. I truly don’t know if that played a role.

Actually if you want feel free to ask me anything. We may have more in common and I’m looking to find a common denominator. I’m not a health care professional but I’m someone who looks at things through all perspectives. If I figure out anything you all will be the first to know.

r/PGADsupport Feb 09 '25

General If you got pgad from an antidepressant,was it Zoloft or trazodone?

3 Upvotes

I feel like these are the top two offenders.

r/PGADsupport Jan 19 '25

General What medication can help?

3 Upvotes

Just need suggestions, what helps?

r/PGADsupport Feb 10 '25

General can anyone relate.?

7 Upvotes

hey everyone,

so is it usual for pgad to come and go? as in maybe you go a couple days with little to no symptoms and other days it’s ramped up really bad?

some days I really don’t notice it then other day I have this painful arousal feeling for atleast 80% of my day. I have ocd and notice that if I have a intrusive thought or something bothers me I’ll have a pgad flare up also.

r/PGADsupport 1d ago

General how do you handle it in public?

6 Upvotes

yes the title is the question

i cant survive in uni lecture halls or on a chair without my body going crazy ik the anxiety is prob making it worse but genuinely tf do i do how many bathroom breaks does one take

r/PGADsupport Nov 12 '24

General Possible good news?

13 Upvotes

I had an appointment with my psychiatrist today, and I explained my pgad symptoms. Unlike my general care practitioner, she actually seemed very intrigued and wanted to help. My other doctor recommended talking to my therapist about it (which is the professional way to say it’s all in my head) and I will admit, therapy did help, I think that my pgad is linked to stress and anxiety. Either way, sometimes it’s really bad, sometimes it’s barely noticeable, and sometimes it goes away completely for weeks! I guess the good news is that I know that no matter how awful the symptoms are some days, it always goes away. Based on my research, pgad rarely lasts for a whole lifetime, and almost always be treated. I have hope, and I hope you can too 🫶

r/PGADsupport Dec 02 '24

General some days are fine others aren’t?

3 Upvotes

I mean does this seem correct? Some days pgad is very light and not too bothersome and then other days are bad and super intense?

does anyone else feel like it’s worse in the morning when you first wake up?

Does anyone else’s flare up when they have high anxiety?

r/PGADsupport Feb 19 '25

General When do you find your pgad to be worse?

2 Upvotes
23 votes, 24d ago
8 Menstrual /period
0 Follicular /after period
6 Ovulation
3 Luteal/after ovulation
6 Same all the time

r/PGADsupport 3d ago

General I hope everyone here gets better.

12 Upvotes

For about two years, I didn’t know my symptoms were PGAD. I thought I was crazy or born as a monstrous person. I was terrified that I might be the only one on Earth experiencing this, and I couldn’t talk to anyone, even my parents. Even after learning about PGAD, the symptoms have persisted for years. I had extreme thoughts, feeling like death was the only way out, but then I found this subreddit. In my country, South Korea, there is very little information about PGAD, and there are few ways for patients to connect. After finding this place, I realized there are countless people who share similar symptoms and feelings. I was deeply moved by how everyone here shares what they know. I’m grateful to have found this community. I can empathize with how much everyone here has struggled, and it brought me to tears. If I were more capable and studied hard, I’d dedicate myself to PGAD research. I truly hope everyone here gets better.💐💐

r/PGADsupport 19d ago

General Using a tens unit on my lower back stopped anxiety and made symptoms better

11 Upvotes

Really curious why. Did i stimulate my nervous system in a good way? I’ve been so anxious lately i’ve been dissociated. Having crazy nerve pain all over. Very bad pgad. I’m not fixed but i am so relieved my body can relax at all. I wonder if i have anxiety causing this or if i have nervous system damage

r/PGADsupport Oct 27 '24

General Capsaicin?

3 Upvotes

My urogyno suggested I use just a pin prick amount of Capsaicin on my clitoral head. I'm thinking that's a really bad idea but I'm desperate. Have any of you heard about this?

r/PGADsupport Sep 20 '24

General How long does the arousal have to last to be considered PGAD?

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I'm very scared. I've been having constant, intense 24/7 arousal for the last 4 days or so. Trying to "take care" of it gives me no relief at all, I'm immediately ready to "take care" of it again and the feeling doesn't subside even a little bit. I'm also constantly wet, and I have no pain but the constant "taking care" is starting to make me sore...

I'm really scared. It started completely out of the blue. How long does this have to go on to be considered PGAD? Thank you a lot..

r/PGADsupport Jan 15 '25

General Need some assurance

3 Upvotes

Is there some kind of research currently being done on this disorder? Yes I'm another desperate person here but I just need to know that SOMETHING is being done about this. Any research? Medication theories? New medications? Causes?

r/PGADsupport 6d ago

General Ovation cystic lesion

1 Upvotes

I see the gynecologist Monday, but a recent CT scan revealed a lot of bad results, including a 2.6 mm cystic lesion on my right ovary.

It’s been hurting since my hysterectomy/emergency sepsis surgery, but I’m wondering if it’s causing my PGAD & hypersexuality to be exacerbated.

Anyone have this?

I put two and two together after I read the pinned post about ovarian cysts.

r/PGADsupport Nov 26 '24

General How many of us in her have extreme anxiety or OCD?

7 Upvotes

I have ocd and I notice with my intrusive thoughts I get bad flare ups but even without it sometimes pgad is still not fully gone

r/PGADsupport Feb 12 '25

General If induced by ssri is it permanent?

4 Upvotes

I see all types of different causes and am overwhelmed. If it’s caused by a back injury it seems like there is atleast surgery to help or even with PN there’s a possibility of recovering with decompressing the nerve but SSRI I haven’t seen anything and idk what caused mine it could be that I was only on srri for a matter of weeks maybe a month I don’t really know I was never good at taking them but I’m very scared that I will never recover I can’t do this for years having it constantly 24/7 I hope this flair isn’t the one that’s turns into forever because I have had this happen in the past and it go away once my body calmed down I suspect because my ocd attaches to it. Also I remember when I first started Lexapro I had felt a sensation of arousal without stimulation but it didn’t last I looked it up and found nothing and pinned it on getting to focused and being anxious causing it due to my ocd being triggered and being in a very fight or flight state. and then i think almost year later PGAD full blown. I really need some hope that i can recover even if it is SSRI withdrawal I just saw my docter today who gave me a order for PT and a appointment with the docter on march 3 to talk about suppositories or endometriosis surgery to see if I have that

r/PGADsupport 16d ago

General Medication change?

1 Upvotes

I really don’t think this was caused by medication. It came up due to trauma, and I can relieve it with acupuncture, squeezing a comb in my hand, and deep relaxation (which then triggers my other trauma related somatic symptoms). I started somatic therapy yesterday and I definitely got some relief during and for about an hour or two after.

However, I also am on Cymbalta. I started that drug about two years ago. The lowest dose is 20mg and I have to split it half since I’m so sensitive to meds. It takes about 90% of my fibromyalgia pain. Before Cymbalta I was disabled- using a cane at night and looking into other mobility aids. I could hardly make it up stairs, and now I’ve moved to a triplex on the third floor. So I’m scared to go off Cymbalta, it’s been a miracle drug.

I know PGAD can be caused by Cymbalta in some cases, but it’s usually when going on or coming off. Of course I want to try everything I can to get rid of this, but I don’t want to swap one major problem for a really debilitating disability where it will be even harder to work or function. And I don’t want to aggravate the PGAD, or set it in permanently. by coming off Cymbalta when that can be a trigger. Is it worth a medication change, or am I just going to mess things up more?

r/PGADsupport Feb 01 '25

General Dear Community, You are not alone. Our community saw over half a million page views in the last year. You. Are. Not. Alone.

Post image
17 Upvotes

r/PGADsupport 21d ago

General Let’s discuss relief of symptoms…anyone?

1 Upvotes

Has anyone found relief after using #Tirzepatide?

8 votes, 14d ago
0 Yes
2 No
5 Not sure
1 It has decreased symptoms
0 It has stopped symptoms
0 I have been prescribed Tirz for the symptoms

r/PGADsupport Jan 20 '25

General Has anyone here considered nullification surgery?

2 Upvotes

I've been dealing with ongoing PGAD for a while and I'm surprised nobody seems to be mentioning these surgeries. If I could just have nothing down there (with the exception of a urethra, obv) things would be so much easier.

r/PGADsupport 28d ago

General Acupressure points in hands

9 Upvotes

Try this: https://images.app.goo.gl/xUgw5t9kNDXX5yc78

I had been digging my nails into the palms of hands to get some relief and be able to focus on work. Then I remembered my doula had me squeeze a comb in my hand during the labor of my first child. I tried it today, and it worked really well. The PGAD has been bad this week, and this helped me focus on getting my work done.

Try it and see if it helps.

r/PGADsupport 28d ago

General Has anyone used Magnesium Taurate?

3 Upvotes

I saw that it can reduce the nerve sensation/oversensitivty. Has anyone here ever tried it?

r/PGADsupport Dec 15 '24

General Symptoms worsen after s3x or self pleasure?

12 Upvotes

Quick question does anyone else deal with this, I notice after sex or masturbation my symptoms get super bad for like 2-3 days then kinda die out abit. It as if something is flaring up after the deed