One in 100 million: the story of a man with an allergy to orgasm (2 photos)

A 22-year-old Israeli man was diagnosed with an extremely rare condition called post-orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS), which is caused by an allergic reaction to a protein released by the immune system during ejaculation. Since the age of 14, he had been experiencing chronic fatigue, watery eyes, muscle pain, and a feeling that his brain was not functioning properly for several hours or even days after orgasm.





The unpleasant symptoms appeared after sex, masturbation, or nocturnal emissions. A mysterious disease that affects only 50 people in the world almost ended an Israeli man’s sex life. After suffering from depression and anxiety for years, he finally went to the doctors.

POIS was first described in 2002 by Dutch neuropsychiatrist Marcel D. Waldinger. He formulated five criteria that allow the disease to be diagnosed. These include flu-like symptoms that occur with at least nine out of ten ejaculations, a duration of two to seven days, an onset within minutes or hours of ejaculation, and spontaneous resolution of symptoms.

While most symptoms, such as fatigue and body aches, are mild, some patients may experience rapid heartbeat or slurred speech.

The exact cause of POIS is unknown. One possible cause is an autoimmune reaction in the body, which explains the allergy-like symptoms.

Researchers have also suggested that the syndrome may be caused by a hormonal imbalance.



The man was not diagnosed with an allergy to sperm, which suggests that his condition is not related to a reaction to proteins found in seminal fluid. Doctors believe that his orgasm activates immune cells called mast cells.

Mast cells are usually activated when bacteria and viruses invade the body. This activation leads to allergic symptoms such as headaches, itching, diarrhea, and vomiting.

The patient was prescribed injections of omalizumab, which is commonly prescribed for chronic hives, allergies, and asthma. It blocks immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies and prevents them from binding to mast cells and causing allergic reactions. The drug was previously used to treat POIS in a 33-year-old man from Turkey.

After seven months of therapy, the Israeli man's symptoms disappeared. Now he can finally go on dates and enjoy his intimate life.