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Current Sexual Health Reports
Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports 1/2020

Open Access 01-03-2020 | Clinical Therapeutics (B McCarthy, R Segraves and R Balon, Section Editors)

The Pharmacotherapy of Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder

Authors: Tillmann H. C. Kruger, Cordula Schippert, Bernhard Meyer

Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a rare, yet debilitating, disease, which was first described at the beginning of this century and has not yet been considered by the ICD-10 or DSM-5. Since affected subjects usually suffer tremendously, this review aims at offering an overview of pharmacological approaches to treat this disorder.

Recent Findings

Until now, no randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials have been conducted on PGAD, and the international registries have not recorded any ongoing trials. Current knowledge on pharmacological options for the treatment of PGAD relies mainly on case reports/case series. Most importantly, there is evidence that some drugs such as SSRIs and SNRIs might induce or worsen PGAD.

Summary

Knowledge on pharmacological treatment options for PGAD is not yet evidence-based, while some reports even assume an induction of PGAD by serotonergic antidepressants. Nevertheless, practitioners should be aware of PGAD and carefully discuss with the patient an individual treatment trial by considering the experience up to now.
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Metadata
Title
The Pharmacotherapy of Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder
Authors
Tillmann H. C. Kruger
Cordula Schippert
Bernhard Meyer
Publication date
01-03-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Sexual Health Reports / Issue 1/2020
Print ISSN: 1548-3584
Electronic ISSN: 1548-3592
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-020-00240-0

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