A 21-year-old Scarlet Kaitlin Wallen, woman from Barrington, United States, has bravely shared her experience living with a rare and excruciating medical condition. She suffers from Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD), which causes uncontrollable arousal.
Her symptoms began when she was just six years old, and she has endured constant “pins-and-needles” sensations in her genitals ever since.
Despite occasional relief, the discomfort always returns. Alongside her physical struggles, Wallen has faced challenges connecting with others due to anxiety and the fear of unbearable pain.
As she entered adolescence, Wallen’s condition worsened, and by the time she turned 15, she rarely experienced pain-free days. In an attempt to cope with the persistent sensations, she resorted to applying vaporub to her genital area, despite the adverse effects such as thrush.
Surprisingly, this unconventional approach provided her with temporary relief from PGAD.
According to the New York Post, Scarlet Kaitlin Wallen reached a point where she was convinced her own body was turning against her. At the age of 18, she penned a heartfelt letter to her parents, explaining the relentless nerve pain she experienced.
She described it as more than mere pain—it was something beyond her control, an affliction that left her feeling helpless.
With her parents’ unwavering support, Scarlet Kaitlin Wallen sought treatment at the San Diego Sexual Medicine Clinic in California. There, she received a comprehensive diagnosis that revealed additional sexual dysfunctions, including post-SSRI sexual dysfunction due to antidepressants and genital numbness.
Furthermore, she was diagnosed with congenital neuroproliferative vestibulodynia—a condition that heightens sensitivity to touch in the pelvic nerves. In an effort to relieve her pain, Wallen underwent a surgical procedure to remove some of her genital nerves.
Scarlet Kaitlin Wallen added, “I’d been experiencing pain for as long as I remember. My vulva was constantly burning, it was like I was naturally aroused but I didn’t want it. There’s nerve pain, it’s not wanted and there’s no pleasure.
I’m hopeful I’ll be able to have a painless sexual relationship in my lifetime. In my brain it was like, I didn’t want to feel this. I wanted to be playing outside.”
During her treatment, Scarlet’s doctor discovered several complications, including a duplicate vagina that was unrelated to her PGAD. In February 2023, she underwent surgery to remove the septate vaginal wall, recovering in just one week.
Later, on September 8, Scarlet had a vestibulectomy, during which only the painful tissue was partially removed. Despite her rare medical condition, the 21-year-old remains hopeful that she will eventually lead a normal life.
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