We conducted a literature review of patients' conditions described under persistent genital arousal disorder and restless genital syndrome, vulvodynia and male genital skin pain of unknown aetiology (penoscrotodynia). Our aim is to improve the understanding of the condition, unify nomenclature and promote evidence-based practice. The most prominent symptom in persistent genital arousal disorder and restless genital syndrome is a spontaneous, unwelcomed, intrusive and distressing vulval sensation. There are similarities between the clinical presentation of vulvodynia, penoscrotodynia, persistent genital arousal disorder and restless genital syndrome patients. The aetiology of persistent genital arousal disorder and restless genital syndrome, similar to vulvodynia, could be better explained in terms of neuro-vascular dysfunction, genital peripheral neuropathy and/or dysfunctional micro-vascular arterio-venous shunting. Erythromelalgia lends itself to explain some cases of restless genital syndrome, who have concurrent restless legs syndrome; and therefore draw parallels with the red scrotum syndrome. The published literature supports the concept of classifying restless genital syndrome as a sub-type of vulvodynia rather than sexual dysfunction.

Men may complain of penile and/or scrotal skin burning with no evidence of positive physical signs or investigations. The condition is cumbersome and leads to stress and disruption in social and sexual relationships. The patients report no response to previous medications (including antibiotics, antifungals and topical corticosteroids); and identify improvement in symptoms and quality of life on selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI). A similar condition has been recognized in the female patients (dysaesthetic vulvodynia). We report the occurrence of this condition in three men and suggest it being recognized as 'the male genital skin burning syndrome' (Dysaesthetic Peno/Scroto-dynia).

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