A WOMAN suffering from uncomfortable tingling and spontaneous orgasms was shocked to be diagnosed with little known ‘restless genital syndrome’.
The 35-year-old experienced numbness, tingling and a “pinprick”-like pain in her genital region for six months.
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Her discomfort was worse at night, robbing her of sleep.
But it gradually started to leach into her daily life and progressed to the point where she was experiencing spontaneous orgasms without any stimulation.
Baffled by her strange array of symptoms, doctors from Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul diagnosed their patient with a restless genital syndrome (RGS).
The rare disorder similar to restless legs syndrome (RLS), which causes an causes a creeping, crawling sensation in your legs and the overwhelming urge to fidget them – especially at night.
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People with RGS will experience symptoms similar to RLS, doctors wrote in a report published to journal Cureus.
This includes “difficulty expressing sensations and a compulsion for genital rubbing”, they wrote.
“Thus, RGS is viewed as an atypical RLS presentation, characterised by genital sensory symptoms.
“Patients experiencing RGS may describe sensations similar to impending orgasm devoid of sexual desire or stimulation, while others report symptoms such as tingling, burning, or pain.”
The authors called for further research into the little-known agonising, condition affecting the genital region.
The 35-year-old woman sought medical help after genital numbness and tingling for approximately six months.
Her symptoms were initially concentrated to her genital region before spreading to one leg, then the other.
The numbness was accompanied by “an uncomfortable pinprick feeling” that triggered the irresistible urge to fidget her limbs.
Her discomfort often worsened as she was trying to fall asleep, preventing her from snoozing off.
Having an orgasm did nothing to alleviate the uncomfortable tingling, the woman told doctors.
Despite having neurosurgical and gynaecological consultations as well physical therapy and rehabilitation, the patient wasn’t able to get to the bottom of her symptoms.
“Over time, symptoms initially confined to evenings began to manifest during daytime hours,” the report authors went on.
“The patient reported experiencing sexual arousal without corresponding voluntary sexual desire and spontaneous orgasms throughout the day.”
These unwelcome disruptions to her day left her feeling anxious, depressed and unable to concentrate.
Problems at work also added to her distress, the report noted.
Despite these troubling symptoms, her medical history didn’t reveal any underlying conditions that could explain her symptoms.
Medics were left baffled after a neurological examination, an abdominal ultrasounds, an MRI of her pelvic region and brain and blood tests all yielded normal results.
After their “inconclusive investigations”, the doctors decided to try treated her with meds often used to treat RLS.
The woman’s dosage was gradually upped until her symptoms reduced.
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“The patient presently remains under continuous treatment surveillance,” the report authors said.
As the treatment proved successful, medics said they viewed their patient’s symptoms as “an atypical RLS presentation”.
“Although there is no established treatment protocol, our patient is prescribed a medication typically used for RLS due to the suspected underlying mechanism, resulting in beneficial effects,” they explained.
They said RGS predominantly affects women.
“However, there is insufficient understanding regarding its onset, frequency, and gender distribution.
“Particularly in conservative regions, this lack of knowledge may cause considerable embarrassment and distress for patients.”
They referred to a case of a patient who suffered with the condition for 11 years before getting a diagnosis.
“Commonly reported symptoms include tingling, sensations of wetness, congestion, throbbing, and genital contractions,” they added.
“It has been observed that these symptoms can be triggered by either physical stimulation or psychological stress.”
