Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome: The Focus of The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation Journal

Cincinnati, OH — The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation has published the first issue of a journal devoted entirely to Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome or PSAS because very little has been written about this syndrome in the medical literature. Healthcare providers are not aware of PSAS. Most female sexual complaints center on an absence of sexual response. PSAS, on the other hand, involves too much response. This condition brings with it feelings of embarrassment and humiliation, which often prevent women from seeking help for fear of ridicule.

The number of women suffering from the prevalence of this devastating sexual arousal disorder is unknown. Dr Susan Kellogg, co-founder of the Pelvic Floor Institute at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia where she serves as Director of Sexual Medicine, found “The symptoms of PSAS are often veiled in secrecy. Women do not know how to broach the subject and fear that even a trusted healthcare provider will surmise their symptoms are 'in their head' or a sign of psychological disturbance.”

The majority of women with PSAS complain of persistent vaginal congestion and other physical signs of sexual arousal in the absence of any effort to create actual arousal or desire. Some women have expressed thoughts of suicide because the arousal is so relentless they are unable to sleep or relax or concentrate on day to day activities. Other women have had to quit their jobs or college because of continuous genital pain from PSAS. They say that it “takes over their lives, but what is more horrific are the responses they receive from their doctors when they try to describe their distress.” After being shown the latest journal article on PSAS, one physician stated, “I can’t deal with this” and then gave the article back to the patient.

“The most recent issue of the Women’s Sexual Health Journal has taken the critical initiative of educating the public, both laypeople and health professionals, about PSAS,” comments Talli Yehuda Rosenbaum, BS, PT, a Urogynecological Physical Therapist and AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor who is in private practice in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel. “Persistent unwanted genital arousal is painful, both emotionally and physically. The case studies provided in the journal illustrate that PSAS may in fact be classified as a type of pain disorder, and that it may be closely associated with other chronic pelvic floor dysfunctions, such as interstitial cystitis and vulvodynia and as such, warrants an interdisciplinary treatment approach.”

Two courageous women wrote their personal stories about the impact that PSAS has had on their lives, relationships and careers. Jeannie Allen, founder of a PSAS support group, states,“Because doctors simply do not have the ability or the desire to acknowledge this condition, I had to start a support group. It is through this support group we have helped one another validate that PSAS does exist. All we have right now is each other on the support group. What a severe detriment that is for us who have Persistent Sexual Arousal. “

Dr Sandra Leiblum, Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics/ Gynecology and the Director of the Center for Sexual and Relationship Health at the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and one of the leading experts on PSAS, wrote the main sexual medicine article that focuses on the features of PSAS, theories of causes, and possible treatments.

Media who wish to receive copies of a PDF version of The Women’s Sexual Health Journal on PSAS may contact info@twshf.org and specifically request this issue of the journal.

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About The Women’s Sexual Health Journal
The Women’s Sexual Health Journal is an on-line quarterly journal available through The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation. It contains personal stories about women and their sexual health difficulties, and articles on sexual medicine, health, and research topics that receive little attention in medical schools and healthcare providers’ training.
For more information about the journal go to www.TWSHF.org

About The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation
TWSHF is an international non-profit organization whose primary mission is to educate the public and healthcare professionals on women’s sexual health.

The Foundation has numerous resources for the public and healthcare professional at www.TWSHF.org , including educational brochures in English and Spanish and The Women’s Sexual Health Journal for members.

The Foundation is currently planning its second annual FSD Symposium for healthcare professionals and students for April 22, 2006 in New York City in conjunction with the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. For more information on the symposium, e-mail info@twshf.org.


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