A mother from Arizona, USA has told of the "embarrassment" and "humiliation" which she suffers on a daily basis because of a rare condition which causes her to endure up to six hours of sexual arousal a day.
Cara Anaya has a rare condition called Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder, which on a bad day can see her having more than 180 orgasms in just two hours.
Mum-of-one Cara was diagnosed with the incurable condition three years ago and will have spontaneous orgasms in the supermarket, on the school run and even in the playground. It's also having an effect on her relationship.
Cara, who lives with her husband Tony Carlisi, 34, and young son Merrick, 10, said: “It is embarrassing and confusing and humiliating.
“When you are around children you feel like a pervert because you have all these really strong feelings rushing through your body at the same time.
“You can’t help out in class or go on school trips. Even doing the school run is a worry because the arousal will build and build and I just have to stay in the car until it is over or try and mask it," she said.
The 30-year-old revealed: “It has devastated my involvement in my son’s life because I feel too dirty to be a part of it. We want him to be a normal kid but at the same time he can’t have friends around because his mom has this condition.
“The worst thing is I can't explain it to him because he’s too young."
Living with the condition has proven tough for Cara and in the beginning she became reclusive, giving up work and being unable to leave her home.
Cara – who married Tony 11 years ago – now avoids being in public or remaining in open spaces, such as parks, where no one can be made aware of her continuous arousal.
“I have had to learn to control showing my arousal, remaining straight-faced, learning to breathe through it,” she said.
“It will build and build and build inside me and it’s overwhelming. It makes me giggle because of the momentary high and outwardly I look okay but inwardly it’s a torture.
“It is ruining my life, because it messes with your head. Your body is running on a high, on an up and down, so it really affects your moods," she said.
The intensity of her condition changes on a daily basis, with some days being so terrible that Cara will hide away and shut the curtains. Then, on other days, she will manage to control her orgasms and will only suffer ten.
“On a good day life goes on, on a bad day it's disabling but I still have to pick up Merrick from school, be a wife to Tony and make the dinner," Cara said.
Cara developed the condition suddenly while grocery shopping three years ago. Walking through the store she suddenly found herself aroused by everything in sight, smells in the air and everything she touched.
Confused, the mum-of-one began to panic, the arousal continued until she fell to the floor and orgasmed unassisted multiple times.
Horrified, Cara bundled herself into her car and called her friend Jenny when she got home unable to explain what was happening and continued to orgasm into the evening.
She said: “It was one of the most intense orgasms I had ever had and it was with no assistance. I was frightened and confused, I just ran out of the store and as I drove home I kept orgasming.
“This was the first time and it was six hours of constant build up and orgasm with just seconds in between. I was terrified.”
Due to expensive medical costs, Cara suffered with her condition for months before it became unbearable.
After suffering an attack of 160 orgasms – not including multiple orgasms – in just two hours, she decided enough was enough.
In 2012 she sought the advice of her GP who was left baffled. Later, medical experts would identify the condition as Persistent Sexual Arousal Disorder.
With no trigger and the cause unexplained, Cara has spent the last six months desperate to find a cure.
She's visited four doctors, a neurologist and vulva specialist as well as undergoing numerous blood tests, MRI, EEG, and EKG scans. She has even sought the advice of a psychiatrist.
Before developing the crippling condition Cara worked as a waitress, now a stay-at-home mum, she is unable to return to work as she is too embarrassed to explain her medical condition to employees.
Physical effects of the condition include dehydration, injured knees and ankles and exhaustion from lack of sleep.
Cara has been unable to wear high-heels since developing the condition as she never knows when she will suffer an attack.
“You can’t say to your future boss, 'I may not be able to come in today because I suffer from orgasms', he would think you were making it up," said Cara.
“But it isn’t just the embarrassment it’s needing a change of clothes, it's that moment if you have a bad one and your knees give way and you hurt yourself. You can’t be a risk or a burden.”
And the condition also has an affect on the intimacy of her marriage.
Cara continuously craves affection, intimacy and cuddles because of the number of hormones in her body. This puts a lot of pressure on their relationship.
Before her condition she had only orgasmed with her husband and the couple only had sex four times a month.
She added: “Before we would have sex a normal amount, at least once a week. We still have sex but it can become incredibly frustrating for both of us because I am forever aroused.
Cara has tried everything to cure her PGAD including ice, masturbation and cold showers. She has even tried changing her diet and increasing her exercise regime but nothing helps.
She said: “When out for drinks with friends, I've had remarks made to me by men who have become excited about my condition.
“They have watched on and found it amusing and I've had to leave because I feel uncomfortable."
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“I've lost friends who claim I’m faking it and my parents found it hard to come to terms with, but they have been there for me," added Cara
“To outsiders it might sound wonderful but it is unfulfilling and shameful. I’d do anything to find a cure.
“As an illness it leaves me feeling incredibly lonely because nobody understands, and there is so little awareness of the condition.
“Right now I seek solace and advice in the online community but there just isn’t enough awareness out there. Even doctors don’t know a cure.
“I just want it to stop.”