Foot Orgasm Syndrome: A Case Report in a Woman

The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Volume 10, Issue 8, pages 1926–1934, August 2013

Marcel D. Waldinger MD, PhD, FECSM [1,2,3,*], Govert J. de Lint PT [4], Ad P.G. van Gils MD, PhD [5], Farhad Masir MD [6], Egbert Lakke MD, PhD [7], Ruben S. van Coevorden MD [8] and Dave H. Schweitzer MD, PhD [9]

[1] Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of BetaSciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitslaan 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
[2] Private Practice, Amstelveen, The Netherlands
[3] Department of Neurosexology, HagaZiekenhuis, Den Haag, The Netherlands
[4] Department of Physiotherapy, HagaZiekenhuis, Den Haag, The Netherlands
[5] Department of Radiology, HagaZiekenhuis, Den Haag, The Netherlands
[6] Department of Anesthesiology, HagaZiekenhuis, Den Haag, The Netherlands
[7] Department of Anatomy, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
[8] Medisch Centrum Buitenveldert, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
[9] Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Reinier de Graaf Groep of Hospitals, Delft-Voorburg, The Netherlands

Introduction

Spontaneous orgasm triggered from inside the foot has so far not been reported in medical literature.

Aims

The study aims to report orgasmic feelings in the left foot of a woman.

Methods

A woman presented with complaints of undesired orgasmic sensations originating in her left foot. In-depth interview, physical examination, sensory testing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-scan), electromyography (EMG), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and blockade of the left S1 dorsal root ganglion were performed.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcomes are description of this clinical syndrome, results of TENS application, and S1 dorsal root ganglion blockade.

Results

Subtle attenuation of sensory amplitudes of the left suralis, and the left medial and lateral plantar nerve tracts was found at EMG. MRI-scan disclosed no foot abnormalities. TENS at the left metatarso-phalangeal joint-III of the left foot elicited an instant orgasmic sensation that radiated from plantar toward the vagina. TENS applied to the left side of the vagina elicited an orgasm that radiated to the left foot. Diagnostic blockade of the left S1 dorsal root ganglion with 0.8 mL bupivacaine 0.25 mg attenuated the frequency and intensity of orgasmic sensation in the left foot with 50% and 80%, respectively. Additional therapeutic blockade of the same ganglion with 0.8 mL bupivacaine 0.50 mg combined with pulsed radiofrequency treatment resulted in a complete disappearance of the foot-induced orgasmic sensations.

Conclusion

Foot orgasm syndrome (FOS) is descibed in a woman. Blockade of the left S1 dorsal root ganglion alleviated FOS. It is hypothesized that FOS, occurring 1.5 years after an intensive care emergency, was caused by partial nerve regeneration (axonotmesis), after which afferent (C-fiber) information from a small reinnervated skin area of the left foot and afferent somatic and autonomous (visceral) information from the vagina on at least S1 spinal level is misinterpreted by the brain as being solely information originating from the vagina.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsm.12217/abstract