Medical experts are racing to understand an extraordinary — and deeply distressing — medical mystery after a 20-year-old woman from Portland reported that she has been experiencing uncontrollable orgasms dozens of times a day for the past three weeks. Her condition, which has baffled specialists and forced an urgent investigation, has left her unable to work, sleep, or live normally. “It’s not fun, it’s not sexy — it’s ruining my life,” she told one UK-based health outlet under the condition of anonymity.
Doctors believe the woman may be suffering from a rare neurological disorder sometimes referred to as Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD), although her symptoms appear to be far more intense than typical cases. According to the Cleveland Clinic, PGAD can cause spontaneous orgasms unrelated to sexual activity — but even seasoned medical professionals admit they’ve never seen anything like this.
Her ordeal began suddenly while she was shopping at a local grocery store. “I was standing in the cereal aisle when it just… happened,” she recalled to a reporter from The Oregonian. “It was so strong I nearly collapsed. I thought it was a one-off, but then it happened again. And again.” By the time she got home, the spasms were occurring every 15 minutes.
In an interview with BBC Health, one of the neurologists on her case said the situation has been complicated by the fact that no single trigger seems responsible. “We’ve ruled out spinal cord injury, certain medications, and hormonal imbalances,” he explained. “But her nervous system appears to be in a state of constant, inappropriate excitation. That’s what makes this so rare.”
Persistent orgasms might sound like a joke to some — but to those living it, it’s a nightmare. Deep compassion for this young woman. 🙏— Dr. Renee Collins (@DrReneeCollins) August 9, 2025
Friends describe her as an active college student with no prior health issues. She played intramural volleyball, worked part-time at a coffee shop, and was in a stable relationship before the symptoms began. “She’s the happiest person I know — or was,” one friend told The New York Times. “Now she’s afraid to leave the house. She can’t sit through a class without having multiple episodes.”
Medical literature has documented PGAD since the early 2000s, but cases this severe are nearly unheard of. Dr. Alan Hoover, a sexual health specialist who has studied the disorder for over a decade, told The Washington Post that the condition “often leaves patients socially isolated and mentally exhausted.” In some instances, patients report feeling constant pelvic pressure and muscle contractions that can be painful rather than pleasurable.
