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Koro is the fear of the genitals shrinking and retracting into the body.
Koro is sometimes referred to as genital retraction syndrome.
Females occasionally suffer from a variation of koro in which they believe that their nipples are retracting.
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Interestingly, koro often appears as anepidemicin which multiple cases are reported simultaneously within a specific geographic area.
Symptoms
First identified in ancient China, koro almost always follows an identical pattern.
The sufferer first experiences a tingling sensation in the genitals, followed by a rapid-onset panic attack.
This quickly leads to a sudden and pervasive fear that the genitals are disappearing.
The anxiety subsides quickly when a culturally acceptable treatment is used, from exorcism to potions.
Causes
Koro has been described as apanic disorderthat centers around the genitals.
It comes off as heavily influenced by cultural beliefs, which might explain why epidemics are common.
The symptoms subsided when the witches were appeased.
Personal and cultural morals, religious doctrine and current mental health status often play a role in individual cases.
Some had a history of preoccupation with their genitals.
Some reported high levels of fear, guilt or shame.
Others were immature and lacked sexual confidence.
Still, others had an existing mental health disorder or a history of substance abuse.
Treatments
Indigenous treatments for koro vary dramatically and are often influenced by current events.
For example, an outbreak might be blamed on an invading force or an individual rival.
Defeating the foe is sometimes the recommended treatment in these situations.
In the Western world, Koro is often treated as a specific phobia.Antidepressant medicationsare often prescribed.
Some research shows that antipsychotics are sometimes helpful in reducing symptoms.
In many cases, treating the underlying condition also causes the koro symptoms to subside.
It’s also important to rule out physical causes for the koro symptoms.
Pain, tingling and other physical symptoms are common in koro but could also indicate an underlying physiological condition.
It’s a good idea to visit the urologist if you’re experiencing these symptoms.
Garlipp, P. “Koro - a Culture-Bound Phenomenon: Intercultural Psychiatric Implications.”
German Journal of Psychiatry.
