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A radical approach to treating post-orgasmic illness syndrome: a correspondence

International Journal of Impotence Research (2025)Cite this article

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Post-Orgasmic Illness Syndrome (POIS) is a condition characterized by troubling symptoms following orgasm. Symptoms typically arise within 30 minutes of ejaculation and persist for up to 7 days [1]. Symptoms typically resolve spontaneously [2]. Five diagnostic criteria have been established, and include meeting at least one of seven symptom clusters. The seven symptom clusters are general, head, eyes, nose, throat, flu-like, and muscle [1].

Despite growing literature, awareness of POIS remains limited. Patients often hesitate to discuss symptoms with healthcare providers, leading to underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis. POIS was first described by Waldinger and Schweitzer in 2002, who proposed a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction to seminal components as a potential cause [3]. Other hypotheses include psychological factors, hormonal imbalances, and endogenous opioid reactions [4, 5]. The lack of clarity regarding its etiology and prevalence has hindered the development of targeted therapies, leaving no consensus on effective treatments.

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References

  1. Waldinger MD. Post orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS). Transl Androl Urol. 2016;5:602–6. https://doi.org/10.21037/tau.2016.07.01

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  2. Waldinger MD, Meinardi MMHM, Zwinderman AH, Schweitzer DH. Postorgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) in 45 dutch caucasian males: clinical characteristics and evidence for an immunogenic pathogenesis (Part 1). J Sex Med. 2011;8:1164–70. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02166.x

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from public, commercial, or not-for-profit funding agencies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Meridian, USA

    Olivia Johnson

  2. Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, West Des Moines, USA

    Emily Baer

  3. Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Westchester, USA

    Ronscardy Mondesir

  4. Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA

    Sara Perelmuter

  5. University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Worth, USA

    Cameron Stokes

  6. William Carey University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Hattiesburg, USA

    Anantha Soogoor

  7. Georgetown University, Department of Urology, Washington, USA

    Rachel Rubin

Authors
  1. Olivia Johnson
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  2. Emily Baer
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  3. Ronscardy Mondesir
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  4. Sara Perelmuter
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  5. Cameron Stokes
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  6. Anantha Soogoor
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  7. Rachel Rubin
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Contributions

Conception and design (initials); Methodology OJ; Acquisition of Data OJ, EB; Analysis and Interpretation of Data OJ, EB, RM, SP, CS; Original Draft OJ, EB, RM, SP, CS; Writing OJ, EB, RM, SP, CS, AS; Review & Editing OJ, EB, RM, SP, CS, AS, RR; Supervision RR.

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Correspondence to Olivia Johnson.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Ethics approval was not required as this publication is a single case report with no experimental intervention. Informed verbal and written consent to publish the details of the case was obtained directly from the patient.

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Johnson, O., Baer, E., Mondesir, R. et al. A radical approach to treating post-orgasmic illness syndrome: a correspondence. Int J Impot Res (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-025-01071-0

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