Man is allergic to his own sperm

Doctors in the US helped a patient (27) who presented to Oakland University Hospital with a certain condition.

He felt nauseous after every ejaculation, had flu-like symptoms. Coughing, sneezing and painful swelling of the lymph nodes. The medics were amazed.

However, after several investigations, they found the solution. The man suffers from Post-Orgasmic Illness Syndrome (POIS). That means the American is allergic to his own sperm. The case was reported in the journal Urology Case Reports.

Body defends itself against the sperm

The complaints started when the man was 18 years old. He went to the urologist who suspected epididymitis. The doctor prescribed antibiotics to cure the infection. But it did not help. The man repeatedly consulted doctors in the hope that he could be helped. But the complaints continued. No one could make a correct diagnosis.

To avoid the pain, the man abstained from any sexual activity in the meantime. Nine years passed before doctors at the university hospital finally found the possible cause of the orgasmic illness. POIS is a rare autoimmune disease. That means: the body defends itself against its own sperm.

Hay fever medication has finally helped

Most often, men are affected by the allergy, but not only. Women have also reported similar symptoms. In addition, some patients feel particularly tired, sweat or get chills.

This disease was first diagnosed in 2002. It is estimated that about 20 percent of all men suffer from POIS. Until now, not much is known about the orgasm allergy.

The therapy possibilities are accordingly unexplored. The drug fexofenadine helped the patient in the US. The antihistamines are also used to treat hay fever. This reduced symptoms by 90 percent. (lrc)