Why Do I Experience Spontaneous Arousal?

Do you have feelings of sexual arousal in the absence of sexual stimulation? In women this may include swelling of the clitoris, vagina, and nipples. In men, this may include pain in the penis or an erection with a duration of several hours.

Do you experience abnormally high blood pressure?

Do you experience shallow, rapid breathing?

Do your face and neck become red or flushed?

Do you experience a blurred or spotty vision?

Do you have an abnormally high heart rate?

Do you experience pain in your genital area, especially the clitoris or penis shaft?

Do you experience muscle spasms throughout the body?

Based on your answers, you may not experience spontaneous arousal in the absence of sexual stimulation. Therefore, it is very unlikely that you have persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), also called persistent sexual arousal syndrome (PSAS). People who suffer from this condition become sexually aroused without any sexual stimulation. For these people it feels like they are constantly having an orgasm. The symptoms can last for hours or even weeks, and they can have a negative impact on daily functioning. Luckily the condition can be treated. If you would like to know more about the disorder, it may be useful to plan a visit to your doctor.

In case you are occasionally experiencing sexual arousal without being sexually stimulated, you may suffer from persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD). It may be important to discuss this with your doctor. Pinching or compressing a nerve that makes you feel sensations around your genitals may cause PGAD. Also having priapism in the clitoris (when it stays erect for long periods of time) may be a cause. In men, it can have to do with abnormal blood flow in the penis. Sometimes PGAD happens together with mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Treatment for PGAD includes numbing gels, electroconvulsive therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), medication, and psychotherapy.