INSIDER – A man who got flu-like symptoms after ejaculating found the symptoms so distressing that he avoided having sex, according to a medical case study.
Doctors and medical students in Michigan said that they believe the unnamed 27-year-old had post orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS).
The rare condition causes flu-like and allergy symptoms after a man orgasms. Symptoms can last for up to a week, according to the National Institutes for Health.
The condition is “increasingly being recognized as a debilitating cause of sexual dysfunction in males,” the medical professionals wrote.
The condition is rare; literature suggests 60 people have been diagnosed with the condition in the last 20 years.
“Because of the distressing nature of his symptoms, he actively avoided any sexual activity or romantic relationships”
There are no proven treatments for POIS, and it’s unknown what causes it.
At first, doctors diagnosed the man with hayfever, and recommended an over-the-counter allergy tablet.
He was advised to gradually increase how often he ejaculated at the same time.
The tablet didn’t help, so they prescribed a longer-acting antihistamine, called fexofenadine.
One theory is that people with POIS are allergic to a component of their own semen, though the man hasn’t had the test to confirm this …
“Our experience demonstrates the feasibility of treating a complex disease with a simple medication and hopefully will be replicated in future patients.”
IMAGE: Original photo and license.
