Persistent genital arousal disorder: successful treatment with duloxetine and pregabalin in two cases.
BACKGROUND
Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a rare condition in women that causes a lot of suffering. The pathophysiology is not well understood and an approach promising effective treatment has not been established so far.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to make colleagues aware of two treatment options, which proved to be successful in one case each and which might be worth further investigation.


METHODS
Subjective distress from unwanted sexual arousal, unwanted orgasms, and pain in the genital area.


METHODS
Treatment of two women--36 and 41 years old--suffering from PGAD with duloxetine and pregabalin, respectively.


RESULTS
In both women, the treatment proved to be very successful over a long period of time. One of them experienced full remission (duloxetine) and the other one experienced substantial improvement (pregabalin), over a period now lasting for more than a year.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregabalin and duloxetine, in particular, should be further investigated as possible medication for the treatment of PGAD.
Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. philippsohn.susanne@mh-hannover.de
Susanne
S
Philippsohn
Tillmann H C
TH
Kruger
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069583:Pregabalin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D000069583:Pregabalin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid