[Bizzy]

"just the simple fact that serotonin is released at a enormous rate during the act of love making and both partners experience a "low" of serotonin after the act (think of a drug user)."

This maybe true but we know that most men cope well afterwards, we dont. So we must have something going wrong. I propose that we have a fault within the hypothalamus. A fault that prevents the dopamine/prolactin balance from recovering normally. A fault that upsets a healthy immune response via the hypothalamus. A fault that causes a runaway stress response involving the CRF hormone via the pituitary. The CRF hormone lowers brain levels of serotonin and raises cortisol. The CRF hormone may underpin this whole illness.

[E J]

What a relief ! --- Like most I thought I was alone with this problem. I have suffered a  dissociative, derealisation? type dream state since my first ejaculation. Now in my early 60's it has progressed to the full spectrum and lasts about 7 days or so. On top of the dream state I now get severe fatigue/weakness, significant generalised muscle aching/tenderness, sub acute sore throats, swollen lymph glands, inflamed sinuses. low grade night sweats, daytime "boiling" accompanies any activity and - just  recently- transient generalized joint pains ( actually, around the joint).
   What makes it all so difficult is that my sex drive remains very persuasive - it is difficult for me to resist sexual activity if in "proximity" and, after 3 - days or so the urge becomes overwhelming. Masturbation seems to produce less "trauma" but ,even so ,it's marginal.  Like others, I literally fear close relationships and for the first time in my life I am actively avoiding them. My irresistible urge and the consequences result in a state of existence that make living barely worth while. No, this is not a suicide note - but did I not have a couple of loving daughters it might well be. I have read most of the entrees and am surprised not to have noted similar sentiments of total desperation.

                  E J

[B_Jim]

All POIS cases

TNS Forum :


Note : sometimes the indicated page has changed, please look the next or previous page. 

1 John21 1
2 Bjim 1   
3 Demografx 1 
4 Cox 1
5 Mellirova 1
6 Bobsie 2
7 TracyST 2
8 JPLewin 2
9 Nathan 3
10 Dave23 4 
11 Imre1 6
12 ChrisB 6
13 Agjchs 8 
14 Antman 9
15 Gonzo 10
16 Porke 10
17 Bizzy 10
18 Wowsawow 10
19 E.J. 11
20 Ultraka 11
21 Guthrie 11
22 Tate 12
23 Interested's bf 12
24 El Stonio 12   
25 Ender 13
26 Jo58 13
27 Nobody007 14
28 HK1979 15
29 Wikkid 16 
30 Bosseflambe 16
31 Living 30 16
32 Solution 17
33 Sokovan 17
34 Fiddlerpaul 17
35 Pdawg 19
36 Nopoison 19
37 Cdma77 19
38 Pyropeach 20
39 Netherlands2008 20
40 Curtis19786 22
41 Deloun p22
42 Uh-clem p23
43 Rapidgaming p23
44 Jerobam p24
45 Girlwind p25
46 Geo p26
47 Counterpoints p26
48 Rock27 p28
49 Jamie_wood888 p28
50 Martin88 p31
51 Sparx p33
52 Michael8028 p34
53 Yukka p40
54 Cookie87  p42
55 Bola-bola p42
56 ollecrev p43
57 Coreman p44
58 Nick_B_85 p45
59 goodoleboy55 p46
60 Longwalkhome p46
61 Questforlife p48
62 prosodye p48
63 Animus p49
65 Aloha p51
66 William p53
67 Stilkus p53
68 CCconfucius p54
69 DigitalMac p54
70 Hurray p55
71 tacabrighe p57
72 Chewbacca p69
73 Whoaa p71
74 Tarkington p62
75 Shahnameh p73
76 Reater p74
77 Limejuice p74
78 Andreas_F p88
79 Laroux's girlfriend p92
80 Gement p93
81 Underwater p99 
82 Phasian p10
83 MattJ p56
84 Davep007 p103
85 SteveD p106
86 Jasmine07 p121
87 SickLifeSaver p127
88 Pro p127
89 Fellow sufferer p127
90 Richargear p130
91 Londonchap p133
92 Jack D p134
93 mister_z p135
94 goingcrazy p140
95 Jiddu5 p139
96 Rob58 p143
97 Pantaloon 174
98 Nsf p150
99 Jidmiddleton p150
100 Ambient123 p152
101 Neverstop p159
102 Defsync p160
103 Aaronchi p161
104 Staystrong p168
105 Welness p169
106 nTonic p170
107 EDS p171
108 ajs p174
109 POIS-SUFFERER p174
110 Deniseamonalisa p175
111 RhythmSpring p177
112 antimorbit p178
113 Dean93 p181
114 zaaria p182
115 Jdubs p183
116 Pronobis p185
117 Botbot p190
118 beyondfrustrated p191
119 David_S p192
120 Langjahr p198
121 NakedDynamo p198
122 Chipdouglas p202
123 daisi_sufferer p203
124 Claret88 p206
125 Green p207
126 mat780 p214
127 helpimsad p217
128 Danny_Boy p217
129 THISFORUMROCKS! p217
130 lauracostis p220
131 Bill12 p220
132 johnl3 p220
133 sclover49 p221
134 tazdas  p222
135 JonJen99 p223
136 Pois_is_hell p226
137 CrazyFox p227
138 Wooder p227
139 Tom2009 p230
140 Pauliebaby61 p235
141 Taz p236
142 Z_One p236
143 Itsmebutwho? p236
144 devastated p238
145 bruxe p245
146 Looking_for_answer p246
147 ophicus1213 p248
148 Pablo445 p254
149 exponent p257
150 tazzy p258
151 Holden F. Anmar-Dey p261
152 PRZ p261
153 europe p261
154 greg44 p262
155 Mental p262
156 Mr_Canadian 263
157 daveyboy 267
158 Sweden 267
159 JJGuy 268
160 bright n clean 269
161 sports_fan 269
162 Ragnar 269
163 atlgreg 271
164 Alexia 272
165 eyestimuli08 277
166 hazey 278
167 Itsmebutwho? 278
168 ad75 278
169 pedro05
170 matsoda 282
171 georgesteve 283
172 Ironyman 288
173 ippo 290
174 Merrilee 291
175 missr 292
176 emanmern 293
177 Sick 294
178 ophicus1213 296
179 Poised 296
180 nbhopeful999 299
181 daveman 299
182 omerbasket 304
183 robb23 306
184 AXIS009 308
185 bm303 310
186 Bowdon 319
185 Dionysus 323
188 FinalPanic 327
189 lost1 330
190 horizon 333
191 nick2k222 334
192 mmac06 335
193 jjjackson 336
194 bokonon 342
195 Vandemolen3 352
196 Alices_wonder 357
197 Tim In San Francisco 358
198 my.delahaye 364
199 seminewt 363
200 strike333 364
201 opeth41 367
202 itsallgood 370
203 GreenWyvern 373
204 Daniel31 382
205 dutchie 387
206 r3dey3s 393
207 alices_wonder 394
208 Alky 402
209 pepboyz 402
210 gabin 407
211 DrewFive 410
212 nomadsack 412
213 victor.kons 413
214 Sig  414
215 yoplait 414
216 monkeyboy 422
217 WeEndThemAll 431
218 Habibou 432
219 dbfd588 435
220 Kingkong 436
221 Connor 437
222 spineguy 435
223 Lindsey 437
224 Zoop 441
225 baboo 446
226 Nightingale 448
227 nick2k22 448
228 afghan666 450
229 kristy 449
230 Rob99 455
231 one_of_akind 461
232 jivetalk 462
233 joyrex 469
234 gadhouse 470
233 valtak2610 470
234 ghunna 471
235 artist 474
236 masochist 478
237 HIPIE 478
238 apostate801 482
239 MrMoonJr 482
240 Vincent Marcus 483
241 carlitto 481
242 RAries 485
243 scooby 492
244 janiv 493
245 alphaq 494
246 cab771 501
247 KCsignman 501
248 Chrissi 501
249 Mer 506
250 Cornelius 512
251 Willem 534
252 emi_b 535
253 kaiser 537
254 spillway 537
255 eur79m 538
256 Sameer 540
257 dan-ireland 540
258 B_daniel 543
259 spence23 546
260 Jrd 547
261 a2g 554
262 bitu8489 554
263 Alui 553
264 Wibin 554
265 Pharaoh 556
266 theblade 566
267 patrick_pois 568
268 POIS1441 572
269 Quasar 586
270 pois_pois_go_away 587
271 Scotty9193 588
272 TIMRIL 590
273 BMX 595
274 traderwithpois 604
275 Ryuk 603
276 prister 606
277 pois1 606
278 pois 610
279 Alexander Russian 611
280 JimZ8532 612
281 scientoast 612
282 RemovePois 613
283 psonijackson 614
284 tatvamasi 615
285 bastianb 616
286 Suppertime 617
287 Enos 618
288 Guitarninja2 619
289 observercenter 620
290 badgerstripe 622
291 mrraba 638
292 HeyMonkey 644
293 ridohu 648
294 makaveli 650
295 mr cool 658
296 nathan660
297 Contributor 660
298 JackSparrow 660
299 l1_prior 666
300 meteo74 666
301 micro41 666
302 gdrtw 666
303 boobay 666
304 fidalgo 670
305 vasian1980 670
306 napkynbass 670
307 manutao 677
308 Robtabasco51



Relora and Fenugreek results for our forum [/b][/u][/size]

B]Cases found on the Web[/color]

[ultraka]

hi. I am also suffering from this affliction, and have done for as long as i can remember. i look like death after I ejaculate and feel sick, tired, cant think, sweats, etc. i might as well write off the next day or so.
interestingly this is only after masturbation but not after sexual intercourse.

i always try to find the natural solution out of this and although nothing is 100%, the following help a little:

5htp
protein shakes
yoga
strenuous exercise(as difficult as this can be)
also mental effort to ignore symptoms
sometimes also strong tobacco.

 

[demografx]

WELCOME TO EJ AND ULTRAKA!

[demografx]

I have read most of the entrees and am surprised not to have noted similar sentiments of total desperation.

EJ, I suspect that some people, myself included, are not as willing and brave as you are to express these sentiments. I have certainly experienced them.

[imre1]

yoga

Have you tried tantra-yoga. I think yoga has a lot of very interesting things to say about sex.

Especially the technique of "Mula Bandha" seems to be interesting. On the same line you should realy look into Kegel excercises especially if you want to avoid wet dreams.

[imre1]

Go to www.semenloss.com for more information.

Can we please stick with reality.

Post Orgasmic Cognitive Symptoms are COGNITIVE symptoms which happen in the BRAIN.

The best explanation is that at the moment of orgasm the brain is overloaded by excessive blood pressure. This strikes a blow to the head which takes days to recover from. It may or it may not involve a heavy, thunderclap type headache.

But it does however create COGNITIVE symptoms, like memory loss, fatigue, ...

[imre1]

Actually looks like another one of those stupid catholic sites where they want to talk about how bad masturbation realy is.

Can somebody please explain to those idiots that ejaculation is a necessary process of the male reproductive cycle.

IT CAN *NOT* BE AVOIDED!!!

Also:

If semen would be stored in the blood why do you get more wet dreams from fat food then from actual pornography.

[B_Jim]

More POIS cases found on the web.


I'm adding each new case. But the list is long so I need several posts. Please read p11, p12, p13, p14.

1/ http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080116193517AAzlKbz

Do you feel exhausted for a whole week after ejaculation?
I just discovered that I have very rare syndrom (some call it Post Orgasmic Illness Syndrome). After I ejaculate I have brain fog, I feel mentally and physically exhausted for a week or longer and if i don't prevent myself from masturbating I will constantly have brain fogness, low energy, tongue tied... How did I discover this? Ever since I started masturbating (5th grade) I've been living a life in confusion. Now I'm 22 and last spring I started experimenting - trying not to masturbate for as longer as possible. After 2 weeks without it, I felt that energy was built up and I had incredible drive to do things, think clearly, talk to ppl easily. I simply felt normal. And I can destroy that collected energy with 1or 2 masturbations. Later I heard that Eastern Philosophies talk about connection between energy and masturbation. The worst thing is that I'm an artist and I can't do good artwork after I masturbate. I think that my condition ruined my life and I've never had a girlfriend
Well now I don't have a problem to get a girlfriend because I know how to keep my mind clear, my energy level up - with keeping my hand off my penis. It's a strange condition and most of you are luck to not have it. For some time I used to think that this happens to everybody, but no, its very rare condition.

2/ http://medical.justanswer.com/questions/4hn6-everytime-orgasam-feel-ill-next

Everytime I have an orgasam, I feel ill for the next several days, longer if I have more of them. I get blood shot eyes, flu like symptoms, feel lehargtic, sometime I get a rash under my underarms, tense involluntary muscles on my scalp, ears popping, sweating increases, etc. I discovered it is called POIS (Post Orgasmic Illness Syndrome) and others have it. )Check out Doctorbob.com seb site and others for confirmation. this is not an imaginary illness, and it is embarrassing to talk about. Anyone know knything more about it? Is it being allergic to one's own hormones or neurotransmitters? HELP!!


3/

http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic102000.html?sid=b4aae49c1f169d24a0e5d19d170fc48c

by means of a wet dream, masturbation, or anything else results in a lack of concentration. Basically, for 5 to 6 days it becomes extremely difficult to concentrate on anything, I simply cannot sustain a train of thought to think things through. I become extremly absent minded. This makes it difficult to read, hold conversations, follow lectures, take tests, remember things, and learn things. I feel extremly tired and jittery, both physically and mentally. I also become depressed during this time. Its like being totally burned out in the head; much like how people after an epileptic attack are. Also, I get strong headaches after masturbation. Allow me to repeat, these symptoms last 5 to 6 days! So its having a huge affect on my life. I've gone to a neurologist, but he doesn't seem to know whats wrong. He prescribed an ssri, but only because I mentioned I get depression after an orgasm.
If anyone has any idea of what I can do to fix this, or any information at all, please respond.
i asked this question many times at yahoo , but didnt get a solution , have been to nerologist , done all MRA + MRI all came normal !!
dont tell me stop masterbation !! pls
help me
SG

did they dignose me wrong ssri problem
I did Mri & MRA‘s every thing came normal they put me on ssri Antidepressant drugs.
At night I took it before sleep and I woke up terrible sick like mind was not with me, doing all stuff wrong cannot concentrate and think right.
May I know should I continue with the drug or stop it.
The drug is called Zoloft.
Does it means anything; does it mean that serotonin is not the problem what do u says???
Oh yes before Zoloft last 15 days back the doc prescribed me with cepram , but it was more terrible so I have to stop it , now I am on again getting the ride on a new roller coaster called ZOLOFT , how do I know that I am surely a SSRI patient.

Zoloft failure but only 15 days !! He should do another test it at least 1 month.

4/ http://www.yinyanghouse.com/node/1766

Depressed after masturbating & other stuff
Hello. I'm a 22 year old male. I have noticed that whenever I masturbate, I seem to be more anxious and tired the next day than normal. I feel like lacking in energy and just tend to be easily frustrated. What could cause this? I've been to acupunture several times because of restlessness&tiredness and general depressiveness. It has helped somewhat, but not that much that sometimes I don't feel very frustrated and hopeless about the way I am. Anybody want to offer insight? Oh, and I excercise regularly (lately astanga yoga and sometimes hiking)

5/

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At6RrOSCDwT.c2VAZO3diM3sy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071123225112AAU76SR

Why do I feel like this after masturbation?
I'm 18 yr old, single & a virgin. Hav been masturbating for last 3-4 yrs. I feel dizzy & weak after masturbating; I feel like sleeping. Why does it happen? Since I don't hav sex I feel masturbation is necessary for me, I just need to do it. What do I do now? plz help!!


6/

http://asianfanatics.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t489406.html

Excessive masturbation = health problems?
Hi guys,
I have a serious question and I really hope you guys can help me out. This is for guys and I'm sure whatever we can contribute will be beneficial to all guys who masturbate or have sex a lot.
I've googled before and have gotten different answers like "not harmful" vs "excessive masturbation results in reduced concentration in the brain/feeling tired all the time etc."
I'm starting to think the latter is true because I've been masturbating for the past 7 years quite often. I've been known to do it everyday for months in a row, soemtiems twice a day. Rare times I will not do it for a week or so, but then it doesn't last long.
I have since noticed (about 4 years ago) that my mind can't concentrate as well as before, I feel more tired/fatigued usually..like usually if I end up sleeping over 10 hours I actually feel worse and "confused" in my mind as opposed to friends who say they feel "refreshed" after a nice sleep.
This fatigue/lack of concentration sometimes doesn't appear but most often does.
Also, there are times when after masturbation a few days in a row, my left chest hurts a lil. I get scared but just usually stop for a day or so and eventually resume...

Does anyone know if this is bad for the heart as well? ie. makes ur heart beat faster (which is not good as it's working harder than it should) or potentially cause any heart problems?

See this site seems to talk about the "fatigue" that I feel:
http://www.prostate-massage-and-health.com...sturbation.html

Please be honest and share what you know.
What I don't get is that masturbation/sex isn't really that different, so people who have sex a lot should be in the same boat as me so hmm...
I really will try my best to stop, it's just so hard!
Note: I have a girlfriend and she really doesn't mind me masturbating on my own times (not that this matters to anyone but I feel that someone's gonan be all "get a gf" on me)

7/ http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070511150235AA6JaJq

Why do i get REALLY tired after sex?
after sex i usually stay tired for at-least that whole day and now, more recently for a day and half. i feel like sleeping but when i try to sleep, i can't.
is there anything i can do maybe eat/drink something to get my energy back?
age 21.

"I feel like sleeping" : perfect expression to define what i feel too....


8/

http://www.byedr.com/Mens-Health/351-mens-health-2.html

Usually I feel drained the following day after having sex the night before.

9/

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071104031554AAjkbH2

What to do i feel lazy and weak after masturbation ?
i am a 16 year old boy
my height is 5"5inches
my weight is 45kgs
suggest me something
i tried to leave this but after 2 days or more
i get involed again
plzz help meeeeeeeeeeeeeee??

10/

 http://www.steadyhealth.com/Feeling_tired_and_cant_concentrate_t110618.html

I feel soo tired and weak after ejaculation. I will have to take Vitamins to recover and it will take about 1 to 2 weeks to fully recover. If i dont take vitamin i dont know when i will recover. I will have diahrea, sweating feet, sweating nuts and my whole body is breaking down. So, right now im so afriad of ejaculating. What should i do ?

11/

http://www.ehealthforum.com/health/topic16511.html

this question concerns my boyfriend and his masturbation "problem". Frankly, i'm at the end of my tether on this and so i'm looking for anything that will point me in the right direction.
His problem is that he gets migraines, like clockwork, 2 days after masturbating.
But here's the thing; if he's having sexual relations (actual intercourse or me masturbating him) with me, he does not have these problems. Only when he is masturbating himself. Only solo does he get migraines.
I found out about this because of his insistance to stop masturbating altogether (with varying amounts of success). Without having any religious convictions (he was raised agnostic) or any specific phobias (no feelings of guilt, sin, or wrongness...Or fears of making messes), he has decided to quit completely. He says that he had no migraines in the month that he managed it, and only gets them after masturbating.
My question is twofold, so here it is:
has anyone heard of this before, and/or does anyone have any theories or suppositions about what this might be? If I get ideas for questions to ask him, I bounce them off of him. Any thoughts whatsoever would be appreciated...
And 2) should I just, you know, drop the issue? I mean, it's not as if he needs "permission from [his] girlfriend to masturbate or not" (his words). But it's not the do or don't, it's the reason behind it that concerns me. The choice itself is fine. The grounds on which it is done need some looking into.

12/ http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic84137.html
(Pyropeach joined TNS forum )
'm 20, light (124lbs), and extremely fit. The problem is after ejaculation by means of a wet dream, masturbation, or anything else results in a lack of concentration. Basically, for 5 to 6 days it becomes extremely difficult to concentrate on anything, I simply cannot sustain a train of thought to think things through. I become extremly absent minded. This makes it difficult to read, hold conversations, follow lectures, take tests, remember things, and learn things. I feel extremly tired and jittery, both physically and mentally. I also become depressed during this time. Its like being totally burned out in the head; much like how people after an epileptic attack are. Also, I get strong headaches after masturbation. Allow me to repeat, these symptoms last 5 to 6 days! So its having a huge affect on my life. I've gone to a neurologist, but he doesn't seem to know whats wrong. He prescribed an ssri, but only because I mentioned I get depression after an orgasm.

13/

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhPvD1yr1GODusSdIvHD2xgjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20070420151943AAcpYhX

Guys - do you lose a lot of energy from ejaculation?
I know we all feel wiped temporarily right afterward. But I have personally found that for the next day at least I am a lot more tired, sleepy at work, and have much less energy to work with. Also, if I am sick, and I ejaculate, I always get significantly sicker. I would like to hear from other guys. Do you lose significant energy for a more extended time than the next hour or so? If so, for how long before you feel "normal," and how much energy would you say you lose (%) ? Thanks.

14/

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al3U6FT8A3ihU_UGBjD82h4jzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20060817095003AAO9zdd

 Ejaculation frequency and depression?
It seems like my mood is connected to the frequency at which I ejaculate. I know ejaculation takes away lot of energy from a man. I'm 26 male and single, and it I go two weeks or so without ejaculating I'm pretty upbeat and my moods are generally good. But, if I ejaculate once or twice a day, everyday for a week or two I feel low on energy, irritable, and feel very depressed about myself and things in my life.

Anyone else dealt with something similar? Any ideas on how to respond to this? I'm very concerned about how frequent sexual activity causes me to feel depressed.

15/

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtJKxtVGR7WJOyBcog1SAS0jzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20070916153312AAcSBMa

What can cause a man to be extremely tired after ejaculation?
My husband is 40 years old, we have sex about once a month- He is extremely exhausted after ejaculation- even if little other physical exertion is used. I would prefer sexual relations, but he is so tired after relations that I don't bring it up often (no pun intended) I love my husband very much, but our sexual life is not what I would like it to be and I am worried about him also. I don't think all men, age 40, have this problem, but I don't have experience with other men and don't know who else to ask about this somewhat delicate situation. Any advice for me/us? Any other men have this problem? And yes, it is a problem for me also.

More cases

[Bizzy]

On the same line you should realy look into Kegel excercises especially if you want to avoid wet dreams.

When has an excercise ever shown to prevent wet dreams. What utter nonsense.

The best explanation is that at the moment of orgasm the brain is overloaded by excessive blood pressure. This strikes a blow to the head which takes days to recover from.

How can you possibly assert that all people with POIS are victims of high brain blood pressure. How do you know this and how can you become an authority for best explanation on this subject.

Actually looks like another one of those stupid catholic sites where they want to talk about how bad masturbation realy is.
IT CAN *NOT* BE AVOIDED!!!

Hold on, ive known people who did avoid masturbation as part of their faith. Not saying they never did but they did avoid it.

If semen would be stored in the blood why do you get more wet dreams from fat food then from actual pornography.

Semen stored in blood

[imre1]

When has an excercise ever shown to prevent wet dreams. What utter nonsense.

http://www.coolnurse.com/wet_dreams.htm
http://www.coolnurse.com/kegel_exercises.htm

How can you possibly assert that all people with POIS are victims of high brain blood pressure. How do you know this and how can you become an authority for best explanation on this subject.

Possible not. But I have spoken with both sexologists and neurologists.

Hold on, ive known people who did avoid masturbation as part of their faith. Not saying they never did but they did avoid it.

The subject of the sentence was ejaculation, not masturbation.

Semen stored in blood

See www.semenloss.com

PS. I wouldn't try a flame war if I were you. I have been through anough to know you are going to loose!

[imre1]

So I just realized that live is to short to be in a fight with any bulies so I will just give in to what bizzy wants and leave. Altough I haven't seen him come up with any bright ideas.

Just wanted to add that you (except for buzzy who for I care can spent the next 50 years feeling miserable) should realy have to look into gingko biloba.

The full description on the bottle states:

"Gingko has the ability to promote circulatory perfusion, particularly in cerebreal tissue. Gingko is neurosupportive, promotes cognition and memory function, and is good for occasional mild memory problems associated with aging. In addition, Gingko contains antioxidant properties that help fight free radicals in the body."

Well I don't know what you are talking about, but I am talking about post orgasmic cognitive symptoms.

After trying it out there are some pros and cons:

+ it realy does work. The pressure in the body is not as high as what it used to be
- as it reduces blood pressure you might get some very mild form of erectile dysfunction

But if I have to choose between days of pain and having to put some extra effort into it. I know what I would choose.

[John21 (OP)]

Hello EJ and Ultraka

EJ, I know how bad it can be, believe me I know... feels like the fires of hell.

imre,

Actually looks like another one of those stupid catholic sites where they want to talk about how bad masturbation really is.

Can somebody please explain to those idiots that ejaculation is a necessary process of the male reproductive cycle.

IT CAN *NOT* BE AVOIDED!!!

I am of the Catholic faith I believe ejaculation can indeed be avoided although not entirely. I avoid any media content that would lead me to think erotically, and this usually keeps me chaste. I still have the the occasional wet dream and even more infrequently the temptation to masturbate. But in my case the incidence has gone from frequent to infrequent, which is very good for a guy with POIS.  []

John21

[demografx]

I quit testosterone, no effect on POIS. But now my libido is waaaaaaaaaay down. I feel that my approach of taking Levitra works well on POIS. I need Levitra for ED; I suggest you DON'T try it if you don't need it, it may cause a stroke if you don't need it for ED, according to one source. Levitra works successfully on POIS (qualifiedly: for me)  - and, you know what? Even though I finally have a "solution" to POIS 25 years later, I'm EXHAUSTED, it's become anti-climactic (yes, I know it's immature, but I'm pissed off at the world for giving me this pathetic syndrome - it's ruined a good chunk of my life) - so, for now, I'm not even bothering to take the steps necessary to improve my libido, either short term or longterm.

Sorry, everyone, to be so negative, but I suspect some of you might understand firsthand what I'm going and have gone through. Maybe my mood will improve. Just for now I'd like to throw the whole sex business in the garbage.

[Guthrie]

Hello everybody,

This is my first time posting to this thread, although I have been reading it for a couple of months now.  Although it has taken some time to overcome my hesitancy about publicly discussing my POIS symptoms, I have been very encouraged by everybody's ideas and supportive messages.  I will begin by describing some of my symptoms--most of them are pretty similar to what other people have said, although I've listed a couple at the end which I haven't seen mentioned before.

History: I am currently 28 years old.  I first started noticing POIS symptoms around age 23.  Before that age, I don't recall noticing any significant after-effects following orgasm.

Duration: The symptoms usually last around 24 hours after an orgasm.  Typically, if an orgasm occurs in the evening/night, I'd feel drained the next day, but I'd have recovered by the day after that.

Physical:  I feel physically fatigued and drained.  When I wake up in the morning after having had an orgasm the night before, I feel extremely drained and find it difficult to get out of bed.  The extreme fatigue and heaviness-feeling lessens a little once I do get up, but it still remains significantly impairing throughout the day.  I am also physically sensitive during the POIS period: I don't like to be touched.

Cognitive: Concentrating as well as verbalizing and communicating with others are much more difficult.  There is definitely a strong feeling of brain fog/derealization.

Emotional: I find that I am more sensitive than usual: things will upset me more easily and I get irritated with other people more easily.  This makes interactions with others during the POIS period more challenging.

Other symptoms: a somewhat strange symptom of mine, which I haven't seen mentioned by anyone else, is that during the POIS period, my eyes are involuntarily drawn towards women, much more than during non-POIS periods.  It doesn't even seem to be a matter of typical sexual desire, since the POIS  normally leaves me lower sexual energy than usual.  It is hard to explain, but somehow it seems more like a matter of visual attraction to the shape/appearance of women's bodies as opposed to sexual attraction.  Has anyone else experienced something like this?

Also, apart from the POIS, I suffer from premature ejaculation, which (since it is also a sexual problem) could be connected to the POIS symptoms.  Do others also experience PE?

OK, I will post more soon, describing my attempts at treatment thus far. 

Again, I'm very grateful for everyone's contributions to this thread.  Let's keep up the ideas and the mutual support and encouragement!

best,
Guthrie

[B_Jim]

More cases :

16/  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkuYeRLHvLVorgGkeUM1KeIjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20060713182235AANHC0z

Does ejaculation make us tired?
I feel tired for about three or four days whenever I ejaculate, so I should sleep more during this period, is this normal? if so is there anyway to prevent such tiredness?
I feel tired for about three or four days whenever I ejaculate, so I should sleep more during this period, is this normal? if so is there anyway to prevent such tiredness? (I can experience very energetic moments when I haven't had ejaculation for a week or so) --------- Why champion sportsmen (like football players) stop having ejaculation before and during contest period? does it make them to have more energy for playin?

17/  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Air.yHwZYWnJgBcgKqHc.C4jzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20070621210406AAWMgye

Why is it that i get tired, no energy for 1 week, afraid of cold, cant concentrate, sweating all over the body, sore back, need multi-vitamins to gain back the strength for 1 week, stomach hurts, after ejaculation while i was sleeping ? What kinda of doctor should i go see? I'm so afraid of it right now because its been bothering my life.

18/  http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/?article=faq&refid=029

am a 27 year old male with good physical health. However, i feel that after masterbation, i really feel very tired and my body hurts like i am
suffering with fever specially my back. Would u tell me what could be the cause of this tiredness which remain sometimes for more than on day after masterbation??? In addition, my penis also hurts sometimes??

Update : the link has been deleted. I certify it was a real case. I just make a copy of what i found, no modification. All cases here are real.

19/ http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Archives/Archive-000011/HTML/20030420-107-000294.html

Okay... I don't just get sleepy immediately after I masturbate, I actually feel more tired like the whole next day if I don't get a good nights sleep.
Or to put it more clearly, unless I have time to sleep sleep sleep (like 9 hours instead of 6-7 I guess), I will feel more tired in general if I jack off every single day.
I also noticed that if I jack off without being aroused I feel more tired... ie. it's harder on the body.
Does anyone else notice this? I think I do a lot better when I listen to my body and see if I feel I need to masturbate. Or usually wait a day or two in between.
I don't know if it's different with sex cause I haven't gotten laid much.... Is this just ME? Anyone care to comment on the above?

20/  http://www.sexinfo101.com/forum/sexual_health_men/18603-tired_second_day_after_sex.html

Tired the second day after sex
In the next day after making love, I feel very tired...even more tired than in the day when it was - I don't have the same concentration power I used to have if nothing had been happened a few days ago.
What can be done to regain the energy?
Can you recommend any diet to speed up this process?
I'm a male!
This happens only if ejaculation occured, whether is sex, wet dream or smth else.
________
"the 2nd day" : evidence is we have the same problem...

21/ http://www.yinyanghouse.com/node/1766

Hello. I'm a 22 year old male. I have noticed that whenever I masturbate, I seem to be more anxious and tired the next day than normal. I feel like lacking in energy and just tend to be easily frustrated. What could cause this? I've been to acupunture several times because of restlessness&tiredness and general depressiveness. It has helped somewhat, but not that much that sometimes I don't feel very frustrated and hopeless about the way I am. Anybody want to offer insight? Oh, and I excercise regularly (lately astanga yoga and sometimes hiking)

22/ http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic116973.html

What could be causing extreme fatigue and muscle weakness after orgasm?

I understand that men are always tired after sex, but it is more than being tired... It is not a feeling of wanting to go to sleep but feeling physically weak, continuing into the next day or longer. It impairs other cherished activities such as going for a run or working out the next day. This occurs after masturbation and sexual activities with a partner.

Is this abnormal and what could be causing it?

Any answers would be great... this has been very bothersome.

23/ http://tperkins.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=1520&sid=19452c0c56d3aa44f65012567bfa87fe

Recently, I have gotten a problem after ejaculation. It seems I loose too much energy after ejaculation that I feel too weak even to do a simple job. I have to take multivitamins and food supplement pills to feel better. This feeling continues till one or two days and then I become normal again. I have ejaculation once a week and that seems to be too much for me. I don’t know what to do. I do sports and feel healthy during the normal days and I have had ejaculations since I was 11. It is a terrible thing for a 26 year old guy. It’s really affecting my normal life I am very worried. Do you have any idea what I should do? Besides I have examined to take food supplement pills for some continuous time but it didn’t cure it.
Exactly, I had depression and anxiety problems three years ago and it took me a lot of time to get over it. As a matter of fact, it’s not finished yet but I am feeling very much better but I didn’t have such problems until 2 or 3 months ago. I thought maybe it’s good for me to use your male energy work to feel better. I don’t have any sex partners or even a girlfriend at this moment. My life is like, working a lot, study to get my masters at the same time, doing a little sport. I am a successful guy outer side but inner side, I don’t seem to enjoy life very much Crying or Very sad .

24/  http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Av9wbbzp1NUICmJ6Fwm2o07pFQx.;_ylv=3?qid=20070420151943AAcpYhX

Guys - do you lose a lot of energy from ejaculation?
I know we all feel wiped temporarily right afterward. But I have personally found that for the next day at least I am a lot more tired, sleepy at work, and have much less energy to work with. Also, if I am sick, and I ejaculate, I always get significantly sicker. I would like to hear from other guys. Do you lose significant energy for a more extended time than the next hour or so? If so, for how long before you feel "normal," and how much energy would you say you lose (%) ? Thanks.

25/ http://www.whfhhc.com/Depression/21062.htm

Ejaculation frequency and depression?
It seems like my mood is connected to the frequency at which I ejaculate. I know ejaculation takes away lot of energy from a man. I'm 26 male and single, and it I go two weeks or so without ejaculating I'm pretty upbeat and my moods are generally good. But, if I ejaculate once or twice a day, everyday for a week or two I feel low on energy, irritable, and feel very depressed about myself and things in my life.
Anyone else dealt with something similar? Any ideas on how to respond to this? I'm very concerned about how frequent sexual activity causes me to feel depressed.

26/ (Rare : a woman)
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgS6NjTmJUcE3VHCz5dGJhAjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20070920060204AAPn2nO

After I do masturbation, I feel myself very tired. If I do it twice in a day, a day later I feel myself?
very tired too. As a result, I am scared to have sex because if I do it with a male, I think I wll become more tired. So I dont want to get married.
Do people who have sex feel tired after sex during the day?
I am 35/female
I am virgin. I believe sex after marriage. Moreover, I have a very busy job.

27/  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlPP988oeapWvWY0AXCUBgYjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20080129152024AAJ6ZNi

Does ejaculation actually have any negative effects?
I'm in an on-going debate with someone so I'm trying to find some proof that ejaculation (specifically losing sperm) doesn't lower your life span or make you less intelligent or able to focus. I already know that after men ejaculate that they get tired, but I have serious doubts about it shortening their life or making them unable to focus for days after (as this person is implying). I really believe that it's due to other reasons and an unhealthy life style, not losing sperm.

I haven't found any articles supporting the idea yet. If anyone can find one that proves this as a myth or not that'd be a great way to answer my question.

28/ http://www.youqa.com/mens-health-5/737-mens-health-6.html

everytime I have sex with gf I feel a little sick afterwards for a few days then I feel fine again. I had myself tested and her tested for STD's and she has none. Maybe I just am getting use to her germs? How sick I get aftewards seems less and less each time.
The first time we had sex her STD status was unknown and I got scared when I had slight symptoms of the flu. So I got her tested and she was clean. I got myself tested and no pressence of STD's either. I had myself tested 3 months later and still clean.
The first couple sexual encounters I experienced slight stomach pains within 1 hour hour afterwards, a slight fever I think, tired, and just not myself. Now with many sexual encounters this feeling has gone away and I no longer get that anymore, but I still feel a very slight illness everytime I have sex with her or even when I masturbate.

29/ http://www.steadyhealth.com/Feeling_weak_and_dizzy_after_sex_t77221.html

For the past 6 months or so my boyfriend has been feeling very weak, dizzy and faint after he ejaculates from having sex, he complains of an almost out of body experience. It seems to be more of a problem if he does all the "work" and gets exhausted. He doesnt have any other sexual problems, altho he was preliminary diagnosed with pre-cordial catch (i think thats the correct term). I dont think this problem occurs if he maturbates.

Once again : "out of body experience" refers to me to "DEPERSONNALISATION"
when my "i feel like sleeping" refers to "DEREALISATION" (most advanced state)

30/ http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?showtopic=3631

I also was dating, and had normal regular sex with my girlfriend, as well as "self stimulation". Well I was doing this for about four years out of high school, then I noticed I was feeling tired alot. Then one evening, I was out a a local beach party, I had a couple of beers, when I went home that night I "self stimulated" twice finishing off both times. The second time something very weird happened, I felt something like a mental energy drain, like some kind of vitality exited my body and/or mind. I immediately felt exhausted and felt strange bodily/nerve pain sensations. To make a long story short these continued for years after this, resulting in problems sleeping, fatigue on and off all the time, and pains in what felt like the nerves on and off.
The one I am most concerned about is that after I ejaculate, be it with a girl, "self stimulation", or a wet dream i am physically drained for days, and I experience aching under the ribs on the sides-alleviated most of the time when I urinate.

31/ http://www.bodybuilding-tips.net/s20/t9005.html

I tend to believe that ejeculating will lead to less test as I've nnotcied after ejaculation I feel tired amd lazy and lack energy.

32/ http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080220023808AAVslYH

Weak after sex...help?
my and my boyfriend had sex 2 days ago..he is feeling very weak and also very hungry...i know that men feel weak a few hours after sex...but 2 days straight is too much...btw we have had sex for the first time..what is the cause?

More cases

[Gonzo]

First of all, a big welcome to all of the new voices around here sharing their experiences with POIS. I find that sharing the smallest of details about our particular situations helps keep us thinking and searching. No thought is too small or irrelevant. We have a very very troublesome enigma before us and we must be willing to take some exploratory steps in order gain some new ground. I thank all of you for your thoughts.

I must comment concerning what imre1 has provided, one method in particular. It's subject to further testing, but I had a successful run with the start/stop method he previously suggested. Originally, he mentioned a 3-4 hour "exercise" but really, who has the time to masturbate for 3-4 hours? I had tried this some years ago to help remedy my premature ejaculation (Guthrie, this answers your question) but I was never able to endure such a build-up without relief. I always gave in! I decided to try this again, this time consciously aware that if I let off too early I would have to pay the piper severely. I held out for about 30 minutes and to my surprise the next day was almost normal. I felt a little fatigue but experience a sexual relaxation I hadn't had in a while. I experienced no mental fog or debilities, I was just a little tired. The day after that it was as if I had not ejaculated at all. Interesting huh?  I would say my person was at about 85%. I tried it again a week later but did not follow the same procedures and it didn't work. I just finished a recuperation cycle and am getting reading to try this again by the end of next week to somewhat conclusively determine if the start/stop method actually works. I will be sure to keep all of you posted. By the way, has anyone else tried this?

This method has not been my only ray of hope. I am also taking a some important and detrimental supplements. As I mentioned before, I credit St. John's Wort with alleviating my depression and mood swings, especially during POIS. I've also been experimenting with Spirulina with considerable success. You see, I sometimes feel that all of this POIS causes some sort of brain damage, I just don't feel right even after I'm back to normal. Its almost as if my brain is atrophied or anemic from the all of the trauma it has undergone during POIS. Spirulina has helped me put those broken pieces back together, I feel. From what I've read, it provides the brain with essential nutrients for mental function. I can share the specificity of the bio/neuro science at work at another time. All I know is that it has brought mental clarity and focus back into my life and I can set my eyes on something else besides myself for longer periods of time. For now I have to conclude that it has helped me tremendously. Spirulina has not only provides my brain with what it needs to function properly, I can tell it has had a reparative effect on my cognitive functions. Let me know what you think.

These three in particular have produced the greatest success for me and I hope it helps. Try them and tell me if you have experienced some of the relief that I have been enjoying. I'll be checking in and will make sure to post further results as soon as they are available. Until then, I wish you all milder symptoms and speedy recoveries. Its a catch-22 gentlemen, but we have to keep searching. Keep up the good work!

Sincerely yours,

Gonzo

[John21 (OP)]

Guthrie,
Your symptoms sound similar to mine except you recover quicker and I don't have the physical symptoms, only mental (although it's hard to find ambition to get physical in that state). I understand your hesitancy to post, it's a very private subject.

John21

[Guthrie]

Hi everybody,

Thanks for your words of welcome.  I'll now talk about some of my efforts to combat POIS.
 
Starting around 12-15 months ago, I began researching different supplements.  For a while, I supplemented with soy lecithin, and then with zinc, but these didn't seem to have much of an effect. 

However, starting this past July, I started supplementing with Vitex/Chasteberry, using “The Vitamin Shoppe Chasteberry (Vitex) Extract” capsules.  The label says that each capsule contains 200 mg Chasteberry Extract and 300 mg Chasteberry, and it recommends taking 1 to 3 capsules per day.  For 3 months, I took one capsule every morning.  Then, for one month, I took two capsules every morning.  For the past two months, I've been taking two capsules in the morning, and one at night.  (Since July, I have also been taking Omega-3 supplements: flax oil, as well as DHA/EPA supplements.  However, I think that it is the Vitex, rather than these, that have been the crucial agents.)

From what I've read about Vitex, it can take a number of months to start having an affect.  I feel like taking more than one capsule per day has been more effective, but it could also be that the Vitex only starting kicking more once I'd been taking it for longer.

The POIS symptoms have not gone away entirely, but they have definitely improved.  Now, if I've had an orgasm the night before, I am still affected the next day, but the degree of the symptoms is lessened: I don't feel as emotionally sensitive, and the brain fog and verbalization symptoms are not as severe.  I think I tend to feel a little less physically fatigued.  Overall, I certainly still don't feel 'good', but I can get through my day more successfully.  So that has been positive. 

Interestingly, I've also noticed that, in a typical post-orgasm day, the symptoms are lessened throughout most of the day, but they increase sharply in the evening, starting around 6 to 8 p.m.  But when this happens, this more severe stage often only lasts for an hour or two, so that I am feeling better again before I go to sleep.  I find it strange that the symptoms would increase after having been less severe—-I have two theories as to why this might occur: 1) the Vitex is helping to combat the POIS symptoms, but it “runs out of steam” after a certain number of hours, allowing the normal POIS severity to return.  Or, 2) Whatever hormone/neurotransmitter imbalances are causing POIS naturally increase in the evening as a result of circadian rhythm changes.  In this case, the Vitex continues to work at the same level, but it has more to fight against, and so is less effective overall.

I'm not sure of the next step to take.  I will continue taking the Vitex, and I'll see if the symptoms get progressively better, but the improvement may have plateaued.  In different scientific studies, Vitex has been shown to lower prolactin, and it's possible that the POIS is in part caused by overproduction of prolactin after orgasm, which in turn inhibits dopamine and causes the fatigue/cognitive effects.  I had my prolactin level tested a year ago (during a non-POIS period), and it was normal.  I may go back and have it tested in the middle of a POIS period, to see if there is elevated prolactin.  If this turned out to be the case, it could be that POIS is linked to a form of latent hyperprolactinemia.  But, again, this is speculation, and I don't have any hard data at this point.

Along these same lines, I noticed that, on the link posted by B_Jim to discussion on the ISSM, one doctor says that Wellbutrin XL (Bupropion) helped one of his patients.  That doctor doesn't mention the prolactin/dopamine dynamic (he only talks about Bupropion's anti-anxiety and energizing qualities), but Bupropion is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, so it could have the effect of correcting for a dopamine deficiency caused by too much prolactin.  I have been thinking about asking my doctor about prescribing Wellbutrin, but I am hesitant to do so, since I am somewhat concerned about the potential adverse side affects of psychoactive antidepressants (even though Wellbutrin is different from SSRI's, which, from what I've read, have much greater side effects).  In contrast, almost all studies of Vitex that I saw reported that it had an extremely low level of side effects, so that's why I decided to try it first.

B_Jim, in your response to my symptoms, you thought that serotonin could be the main problem.  From what I had read, it struck me as similar to the induced dopamine deficiency described here.
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/162/9/1755
But, your serotonin hypothesis could also be correct: I wonder if there is a clear way to determine between the two based only on the symptoms.


Also, in terms of getting in touch with other POIS sufferers, when I was searching the web, I found a blog in France devoted to POIS, which has a pretty large number of postings:
http://fatigueapresorgasme.over-blog.com/
If you read French, you can check it out, or you can use online translation tools such as Altavista-Babel Fish or Google Translate.  Most people who have posted there have not reported success in alleviating the problems, but there is one person (Témoignage #12) who reported that his POIS symptoms disappeared entirely after taking the SSRI Sertraline (in the same drug-class as Zoloft).
I think I will write to that blog, and let them know about this Naked Scientist discussion thread.


I'd be interested in hearing anyone's insights or responses to all of this!

Guthrie