AS01-04 - Post orgasmic illness syndrome: indications for an auto-immune pathogenesis

Abstract

Post-orgasmic unwell being denoted as postorgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) was for the first time reported by Waldinger and Schweitzer in 2002 [1]. Recently, Waldinger et al. investigated 45 Caucasian males with complaints of POIS and categorized their symptoms in 5 preliminary criteria [2,3]. POIS is characterized by local mucosal manifestations (nasal congestion, itching eyes), and systemic features (flu-like syndrome with feverishness, muscle tension, exhaustion, foggy head, concentration difficulties, and mood irritability), occurring within 30–60 minutes after ejaculation. The symptoms always starts off after ejaculation, often reaching its peak severity at the second day and gradually diminishes within 1–7 days [3]. Affected males usually try to avoid ejaculating by planning intercourse or by abstaining from sexual activity. Waldinger et al. showed that 88% of the males had a positive intracutaneous (IC) skin-prick test for autologous semen and postulated that POIS is an expression of an auto-immune process. Support for this hypothesis comes from positive effects of hyposensitization treatment with diluted autologous semen in two men with POIS.