Doctors in the USA have found a surprisingly simple cure for a young male who had developed an unfortunate allergy to his own orgasms.
In a case study published in the November edition of Urology Case Reports it is described that the man began to develop symptoms similar to that of a dust or dander allergy following sexual intercourse.
The debilitating condition was reported to have left the man unable to pursue romantic relationships since the age of 18, and worse still, the illness went undiagnosed for nine years.
The report details that following visits to multiple doctors, infectious disease specialists and even an otolaryngologist, the patient was eventually diagnosed with a condition known as POIS.
POIS, or postorgasmic illness syndrome, is an incredibly rare condition in which sufferers experience symptoms such as fatigue, itchy eyes, rash, inflammation, runny nose and even memory loss following ejaculation.
Symptoms may develop within seconds, minutes, or hours after orgasm, and usually last for 2 to 7 days before going away on their own.
The exact cause of POIS is uncertain, though is it speculated that a urinary tract infection can set off a chain of immune reactions that result in the body becoming sensitized to semen.
There are roughly 1,000 sufferers of POIS in the US alone, making the condition difficult to diagnose.
Until recently there was no official treatment for POIS, however, when doctors suggested their patient try an over-the-counter daily dose of fexofenadine anti-histamine as a last resort, the man experienced a sudden relief of symptoms.
Following a number of weeks on the anti-histamine, the man reported a 90% reduction in symptoms.
Commenting on the case, Urology Case Reports concluded: “Our experience demonstrates the feasibility of treating a complex disease with a simple medication and hopefully will be replicated in future patients.”
