35-Year-Old Woman Diagnosed with Rare Restless Genital Syndrome After Months of Painful Tingling and Numbness

A 35-year-old woman sought medical assistance after experiencing numbness and tingling in her genital area for roughly six months, symptoms that worsened at night and disrupted her sleep. Over time, these sensations spread to her legs, severely affecting her daily life. Despite these worrying symptoms, her medical history showed no underlying conditions to explain the distress.

Doctors at Bahçeşehir University were perplexed when neurological exams, abdominal ultrasounds, pelvic MRI scans, and comprehensive brain and blood tests returned normal results. Ultimately, they diagnosed her with Restless Genital Syndrome (RGS), a rare condition similar to Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), which is marked by tingling sensations and an overwhelming urge to move the legs, especially at night.

“Patients with RGS exhibit symptoms similar to those with RLS. This includes difficulty describing sensations and a compulsion for genital rubbing. Some patients report sensations similar to an impending orgasm without sexual desire or stimulation, while others describe symptoms such as tingling, burning, or pain,” explained the medical team.

The patient reported that achieving orgasm did not relieve the uncomfortable tingling. She sought help from neurosurgical and gynecological consultations and even tried physiotherapy and rehabilitation, but relief only came after doctors prescribed medication typically used for Restless Legs Syndrome. Her dosage was gradually increased, leading to symptom improvement.

“The patient is currently under close monitoring,” said the team. “Although no standardized treatment protocol exists, we prescribed a medication usually used for RLS due to a suspected underlying mechanism, which resulted in beneficial effects.”

The medical authors called for further research into this agonizing and lesser-known condition that affects the genital region.