Symptoms occur always or nearly always, e.g., in more than 90% of ejaculation events Ĭriterium 4. All symptoms occur immediately (e.g., seconds), soon (e.g., minutes), or within a few hours after ejaculation that is initiated by coitus, and/or masturbation, and/or spontaneously (e.g., during sleep) Ĭriterium 3. One or more of the following symptoms: sensation of a flu-like state, extreme fatigue or exhaustion, weakness of musculature, experiences of feverishness or perspiration, mood disturbances and/or irritability, memory difficulties, concentration problems, incoherent speech, congestion of nose or watery nose, itching eyes Ĭriterium 2. The five criteria of POIS are as follows:Ĭriterium 1. Consequently, it was argued that the presentation of POIS is variable but quite well represented by these five criteria. A consecutive group of 45 males with these complaints fulfilled to most of these five preliminary criteria ( 4). ( 4) classified POIS into five preliminary criteria. In further research of 12 other Dutch patients with similar complaints, Waldinger et al. But at the time, the role of cytokines in mediating POIS was unknown. Support for an immunological cause of these flulike complaints was found in reports on cytokines inducing a flulike state ( 2, 3). However, and importantly, the postulated immunological origin of their complaints gave rise to a systemic reaction of the body and not a local genital reaction. As the symptoms of POIS occurred rather immediately after ejaculation Waldinger and Schweitzer ( 1) postulated that POIS was caused by an immunological process, as only the immune system is capable of inducing very rapid and serious physical and mental symptoms. Notably, both men were otherwise physically completely healthy. As a result, they refrained from sexual activity in order to avoid to becoming ill again. However, all these complaints returned in the same severity after they ejaculated again.
These symptoms disappeared after 3 to 7 days. After this first publication of POIS, a gradually increasing number of males around the world recognized its symptoms and reported to be relieved that finally there was an official medical name and that they did no longer had to believe to suffer from a psychiatric disorder or a mysterious somatic disease as has been told to them by various medical specialists.īoth men of the first publication of POIS reported a rapid onset of flu-like symptoms, such as feverishness, extreme fatigue, and burning eyes after ejaculation followed by more cognitive disturbances such as concentration difficulties and particularly an irritated mood ( 1). The authors called it “post orgasmic illness syndrome” or abbreviated “POIS” ( 1). This new cluster of symptoms clearly needed a name. These complaints lasted for about 5 to 7 days, after which they disappeared until the next time that they have had an ejaculation. The illness started with flu-like symptoms such as feeling feverish, a foggy head and/or painful heavy muscles of arms and legs followed by concentration and attention difficulties and irritation. This occurred whether they ejaculated during intercourse, masturbation or spontaneously at night. They became ill immediately after ejaculation. In 2002, Waldinger and Schweitzer published a case report of two males who had similar but remarkable complaints that sofar had not been described in medical literature ( 1). In those cases, it is hypothesized that the Ag is associated with female prostatic tissue around the vagina. In addition, POIS may also occur-although rarely-in females. Indirect clinical evidence suggests that the antigen (Ag) triggering the POIS systemic reaction is not bound to spermatozoa but to seminal fluid produced by prostatic tissue. On the contrary, there are indications that POIS is triggered by specific cytokines that are released by an auto-immune reaction to the man’s seminal fluid. POIS is not associated with increased total serum IgE concentrations. POIS is a chronic disorder that manifests itself in POIS “attacks” that occur within a few minutes to a few hours after ejaculation, and disappear spontaneously after 3 to 7 days. Among men the symptoms vary in intensity, durations and sort of symptoms.
However, the manifestation of these symptoms varies from one male to the other but is relatively constant in the person himself. Its symptoms are described by seven clusters. POIS is an invalidating most probably auto-immune disease leading to much distress in males and their partners. It also occurs before or after a man has been sterilized. Two subtypes are distinguished: primary and secondary POIS. Men with post orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) become ill rather immediately after ejaculation, whether spontaneously at night, during sexual intercourse or masturbation.