Postorgasmic illness syndrome

Disease Overview

Postorgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) is a rare condition in which a person develops flu-like and allergy symptoms after orgasm, whether with a partner, through masturbation, or spontaneously during sleep.[15294][13514][15293] POIS typically is reported in males (after ejaculation), but females have rarely been reported to have symptoms of POIS.[15294][15293] Symptoms may develop within seconds, minutes, or hours after orgasm, and usually last for 2 to 7 days before going away on their own.[15294][15293][11770] Possible symptoms vary from person to person, but more common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, headache, fever, mood changes, memory or concentration problems, stuffy nose, sore throat, and itching eyes.[15294][11770]

The underlying cause of POIS is not known.[15293][11770] Some scientists believe that in men, it is an autoimmune or allergic disorder that causes an inflammatory reaction to a substance in a man’s own semen. Others have proposed POIS may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.[15293] There is no standard treatment for POIS, but some men have been treated with SSRIs, antihistamines, and/or benzodiazepines.[15293][11770] POIS can cause severe distress in people with the condition and their partners.[15293] Some people with POIS abstain from sexual activity or find that they need to schedule sex for a time when they can cope with the symptoms.[15294][15293]

Synonyms

• POIS
• Post orgasmic sick syndrome
• Post-orgasmic illness syndrome