Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40041302›Full record

ArticleSexual medicine2025

Application of International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health consensus algorithm for persistent genital arousal disorder/genito-pelvic dysesthesia to 10 cases and use of epidural spinal injections as long term management.

Hannah Ahrendt, Salim Hayek, Sheryl Kingsberg, Anna Myers, Rachel Pope

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Article in Sexual medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Hannah AhrendtCase Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0004-1382
Salim HayekDivision of Pain Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States.
Sheryl KingsbergDepartment of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States.
Anna MyersUrology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States.
Rachel PopeUrology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Persistent genital arousal disorder/genito-pelvic dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD) is a debilitating, but poorly understood disorder. To address the lack of knowledge regarding mechanism and treatments, the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH) consensus statement proposed a region-based approach for management of PGAD/GPD, including possible etiologies. Annular tears of the lumbar intervertebral disc are a recently acknowledged etiology of PGAD/GPD, and current evidence suggests that management of symptomatic tears resistant to non-invasive treatment may require lumbar endoscopic spinal surgery. Aim: This case series offers 10 cases of PGAD/GPD symptoms, in order to describe resource efficient management, including use of epidural spinal injections to reduce barriers to care for this debilitating condition. Methods: Individuals were identified by investigators in clinical practice. Electronic medical record notes and relevant imaging from the past 3 years were reviewed. Results: Half of the patients tried three or more treatments before finding any symptomatic relief. Two patients, with annular tears evident on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), found complete relief with epidural spinal injections. A patient with hypertonic pelvic floor found total relief with pelvic floor physical therapy. Two patients found alleviation of symptoms with discontinuation of triggering medications, and four patients had palliation of symptoms with gabapentin and/or pregabalin. Conclusion: These cases demonstrate the utility of the ISSWSH consensus algorithm in guiding initial diagnosis and treatment of PGAD/GPD. However, flexibility is important in management to choose the appropriate treatment pathway to provide the most effective symptom management. Current evidence suggests the use of epidural spinal injections for temporary symptom relief, however, this case series suggests its use for long term management.

Indexed as

case seriesfemale sexual dysfunctiongenito-pelvic dysesthesiapersistent genital arousal disorder

Identifiers

PMID40041302
PMCPMC11879244

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