Can't turn off

I've heard of it. Sex drives are different for everyone. And sex drives can be affected by illnesses, hormones, whatever.

Thanks to PCOS, my hormones are so abnormal that at any given time I can go from having a very low sex drive and not need release for months, to it being in the normal range, to it going really high.

The doctors said Birth Control could help with the hormones, but because of a previous illness, I can no longer take anything with hormones in them so it's just something I have to deal with.

And also your 16, your hormones can be quite out of whack at that ages you still develop and go through puberty, if there is no other underlying issue causing a high sex drive. I'd see if your body just sorts itself out?

 

Definitely agree with Sawyer as time goes on you will learn to control thoughts and deal with the stimulation.

 

Hi KarenLyn:

I have heard of it. A dear friend of mine has it and it started much the way you describe - she just woke up with it one day. She thought that her sex drive had suddenly increased because of approaching menopause and thought it was rather fun for the first two days but after a week of no relief and then another she was suicidal - she said it was like being on a hamster wheel - just endless. She felt like she was going insane and even worse were the feelings of shame and embarrassment.

Fortunately she found out about PGAD, which is what she calls it, online, and then she knew that it was a problem with her body, not her mind. After about six weeks she actually started having not just arousal but pain as well, vaginally, rectally and randomly throughout her abdomen. She finally went to the doctor when that started but didn't tell the doctor about the arousal symptoms - she just felt too embarrassed. She had an ultrasound and it turns out there is something growing on her uterus (not malignant) and it's pressing on things - blood vessels, nerves, her bladder etc. She then went through a short time where she would have sudden overwhelming nausea whenever she had the pain. The doctor has said that because she is close to menopause that they are not likely to recommend surgery for the growth, that it will naturally subside as the hormones wane.

She still gets her period and the PMS phase is usually the worst for the PGAD symptoms. She thinks that it's because there's less room in the lower abdomen because the uterus is full. As well, she has a lower back problem which may be contributing to the symptoms. She did a lot of reading on the net as you have and started doing Kegel exercises and working to tone her abdominal muscles and she said those things really helped so that now it's not as bad as it was in the beginning - it's mostly during PMS that she has the arousal and pain symptoms.

When the arousal symptoms are at their worst, she told me that she does affirmations to help counteract the feelings of shame and embarrassment, like telling herself that she is more than her symptoms, reminding herself that she has a physical problem not a sexual or mental health problem and that it's her body doing this to her not her mind. She says it's still hard sometimes because it feels overwhelming physically and mentally.

She confided in me after she had seen the doctor. I'm glad she shared that because it sounds hellish to be alone with it. I'm glad your mom is your ally and that you have a good OB/GYN. I don't know if there are support groups available - that might be something to look for.

If you haven't already you might want to try the Kegel exercises - basically clench your internal pelvic muscles - hold your pee or your farts - for 15 seconds and then let go and repeat over and over as you go about your day. If you think your abs need some work that might be another thing to try, any kind of "core" work or gentle yoga might be helpful (be careful of hyper-competitive yoga, I know people who have permanent injuries because of that) and any kind of walking or swimming is good for your abs.

I hope your symptoms will abate for you. And I hope that if you need help with feelings of embarrassment and shame that you will reach out for help either in real life or online. I think it's important that you have somewhere to share about what's going on.

(*hug*)