[Vandemolen3]

from
http://www.shada.org.uk/docs/5/Health_Benefits_Sex.doc

In 1997 in the BMJ, a 10 year research study into 1000 middle aged men at Queens University, Belfast revealed that sex on a regular basis is not just healthy but also increases lifespan. Men were matched for similar age and health, and those with the highest orgasm frequency displayed half the death rate of men who did not have such frequency of orgasm. Researchers believed it was due to the stress reduction effect of sex.  Interestingly levels of DHEA is increased five times higher during orgasm or just before ejaculation. DHEA is produced by the adrenal cortex and is found in higher levels in people who live longer.

Improved Senses:
Sex improves the senses – e.g  the sense of smell. After orgasm there is a rise in prolactin, a hormone. This makes the brain’s stem cells grow new neurones in the olfactory bulb, the area responsible for the sense of smell, increasing a person’s ability to smell.

Reduces Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke:
A 2001 follow up to the Queen’s Belfast study (Shah Ebrahim) found that men who had sex 2-3 times a week reduced their chances of having a heart attack or stroke by half.

Sex is a natural pain reliever:
Sex is also a pain reliever. Just before orgasm oxytocin levels rise by five times triggering endorphins, the body’s natural pain-killers.

Improves Blood Circulation:
Sex improves blood circulation, via increased breathing rate and oxygenation.

Improves Immune System:
 Those who have sex 1-2 times a week present 30% greater amounts of the immune-boosting antibody IgA (Wilkes, University Pennsylvania).


maybe we should contact
queens uni, belfast CANADA (I thought this was the uni from the study!):
http://psyc.queensu.ca/faculty/pukall/sexhealth.htm
queens uni , BELFAST
Institute of Clinical Sciences, Block B
Phone: +44 (0) 28 9063 5009
Fax No: +44 (0) 28 9023 5900
Email: CPH@qub.ac.uk

plus
Wilkes, University Pennsylvania
and Shah Ebrahim

more sites
http://www.obgyn.ubc.ca/SexualHealth/contact.php
http://www.uvm.edu/~shrc/
http://www.sexhealthmatters.org/v2/data/about_us/mulhall.asp
http://www.sexhealthmatters.org/v2/data/about_us/about_us.asp

from
http://www.eroticuniversity.com/healthorgasm.html
South Illinois School of Medicine

olfactory/senses

Interesting. POIS may have to do with:
oxytocin
endorphins
IgA

prolactin (400 % more after intercourse than after masturbation):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16095799?dopt=Abstract

[Vandemolen3]

Here's a direct quote from the Ashbey paper:

Evidence of many more undiagnosed
sufferers of POIS is seen in the existence
of an extremely active Internet forum where more
than 100 people have self-reported symptoms
of POIS. The website offers a forum to share
support and suggestions of remedies and can
be found at http://www.thenakedscientists.com/
forum/index.php?topic=6576.

Also want to let everyone know that the paper has been bought with the help of Demo, Limejuice, and myself.

CASE REPORT
Postorgasm Illness Syndrome—A Spectrum of Illnesses
Jane Ashby, MRCP, and David Goldmeier, MRCP
Genitourinary Medicine (GUM)/Human Immune deficiency Virus (HIV), Imperial College, St. Mary's Hospital, London, UK
Correspondence to  Jane Ashby, MRCP, GUM/HIV, Imperial College, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, W2 1NY London, UK. Tel: 07930384735; Fax: 0044 207 886 6974; E-mail: jane.ashby@imperial.nhs.uk
Copyright © 2010 International Society for Sexual Medicine
KEYWORDS
Postorgasm Illness Syndrome • Fatigue • POIS • Neurobiochemical Sequelae of Orgasm
ABSTRACT
Introduction. We describe two men with marked symptoms following orgasm. In each case, the symptoms were consistent with those found in postorgasm illness syndrome (POIS).

Aim. Further elucidation of the cause of the patients' symptoms.

Methods. Both cases were investigated for causes of POIS with biochemical, hormonal, neurological, autonomic, cardiological, and psychological workup.

Results. Extensive investigation did not reveal a major organic cause for these patients' symptoms. Detailed history revealed likely differing etiologies in each case. In one case, the symptom picture suggested cytokine release, and, in fact, the patient subjectively improved by 80% on taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs just prior to and for a day or two after orgasm. The other case appeared to have an ethnic/cultural etiology that was associated with the "Dhat" syndrome.

Conclusion. The apparent differing etiologies/clinical associations of these cases highlight the need for careful history, examination, and investigations in patients presenting with POIS. We recommend that each case needs individual consideration and investigation, and treatment needs to be tailored to the likely cause. It seems likely that POIS represents a spectrum of syndromes of differing etiologies. Further research into the neurobiochemical sequelae of orgasm will be useful in understanding the pathological processes in these cases. Ashby J, and Goldmeier D. Postorgasm illness syndrome—A spectrum of illnesses. J Sex Med 2010;7:1976–1981.

[strike333]

Hello all, first post here.

I believe I have POIS too and I'm happy to have found you guys.  My symptoms gets worst after masturbation and even thinking deeply about sexual related things. 

I'm 28, my symptoms are...
mental/physical fatigue,
lack of focus,
some memory loss,
tightening and clicking noise inside the brain
some eye irritation
loss of metabolism and energy

I'm seeing a neurologist, will be doing an MRI scan.  Will keep you guys posted.  I kind of doubt they will give me a POIS diagnosis/treatment, even if they found something.

I'm kind of desperate like most of you guys. I like to know what I can try.  So far I read about trying L-tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine, DHEA, Relora.  I also read about seeing a endocrinologist to do some sort of hormone blood test. 

Thank you guys, any help or advice is appreciated

Harry

[seminewt]

...

Seminewt, it sounds like you are having panic attacks.  I wouldn't be too quick to attribute your symptoms to anything in particular.  I  strongly recommend seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Well this morning I had a NE and am now feeling by far the worst I have yet.... extreme fatigue and weakness. Are you 100% sure I don't have POIS?

[demografx]

seminewt, it's impossible to be diagnosed over the Internet, sight unseen, strictly on the basis of a post.

[Counterpoints]

...

Seminewt, it sounds like you are having panic attacks.  I wouldn't be too quick to attribute your symptoms to anything in particular.  I  strongly recommend seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Well this morning I had a NE and am now feeling by far the worst I have yet.... extreme fatigue and weakness. Are you 100% sure I don't have POIS?

No, I'm not sure.  Your description just made me think it would be worth seriously looking into treatment for an anxiety disorder / anxiety attacks, to see if it helps. 

[martin88]

...

Seminewt, it sounds like you are having panic attacks.  I wouldn't be too quick to attribute your symptoms to anything in particular.  I  strongly recommend seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Well this morning I had a NE and am now feeling by far the worst I have yet.... extreme fatigue and weakness. Are you 100% sure I don't have POIS?

I agree with what CP and Demo are saying about a diagnostic.
I was medically diagnosed with panic caused by hyperventilation (I had this for 3 months). All the episodes always happened POIS day 2, so I think POIS can be one factor among other.

[Finally]

I received some information from Life Extension on Fibromyalgia/CFS and an interesting theory is that the cause is there is an elevated level of peroxynitrate .  Research by Martin Pall in 2005 seems to indicate this is caused by abnormal levels of nitric oxide Synthase (INOS)in the central nervous system causing inappropriate stimulation of pain receptors and increase in oxidents such as peroxynitrite radical and other reactive oxygen species.
Nitric Oxide is produced to begin the process of increasing blood flow into the Penis for erection.  PDE5 is a substance which inhibits this process.  Sidinfil which is the active ingredient in Viagara etc.  inhibits PDE5. 

Perhaps that is why some had temporary  relief from using these products is that less  Nitric Oxide was necessary and therefore less INOS
Nitric Oxide is also used to a lesser extent in the stimulation process for women during sex.
I tried a product recently which was supposed to increase oxygen at the cellular level.  The process using a form of L-arginine  to stimulate production of natural Nitric Oxide.  I stopped  because my muscles and spine became stiff and it was harder to move. Almost identical to what happens with POIS, particularly in that 1st 24 hour period.
The effects of this oxidative  damage include fatigue, lethargy, depression, siffness and pain. A lot of the damage occurs to the mitocondria which affects the ATP-ADP energy producing cycle
Unfortunately a diagnosis would probably require a spinal tap  during POIS.
Antioxidants could help some.  Things like blueberries are very high.  There is a product out of France which may help counteract this effect but has not proven in any tests.

[John21 (OP)]

The clicking in your brain is probably pulsatile tinnitus. I have this as well, it began after having horrible withdrawal symptoms from Paxil, I didn't know to taper off slowly. I hear it in my left ear. Welcome to the forum.

Hello all, first post here.

I believe I have POIS too and I'm happy to have found you guys.  My symptoms gets worst after masturbation and even thinking deeply about sexual related things. 

I'm 28, my symptoms are...
mental/physical fatigue,
lack of focus,
some memory loss,
tightening and clicking noise inside the brain
some eye irritation
loss of metabolism and energy

I'm seeing a neurologist, will be doing an MRI scan.  Will keep you guys posted.  I kind of doubt they will give me a POIS diagnosis/treatment, even if they found something.

I'm kind of desperate like most of you guys. I like to know what I can try.  So far I read about trying L-tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine, DHEA, Relora.  I also read about seeing a endocrinologist to do some sort of hormone blood test. 

Thank you guys, any help or advice is appreciated

Harry

[demografx]

seminewt and strike333, welcome to the POIS thread of The Naked Science Forum!




Here are some POIS resources which may be helpful to you:


Our POIS Information Website, built by "mat780", is here:
http://sites.google.com/site/POISwebsite/

Please see "B_Jim"'s POIS Summary of All Cases, here as well as others on the Web. This includes remedies that we have tested, and results.
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6576.msg149009#msg149009

Filling out the POIS survey created by "Counterpoints" can help you to share more POIS information and details with others here, as well as with future outside researchers.
http://pois.olympe-network.com/

"Girlwind" has created an excellent POIS Video:

Our new POIS chatroom (realtime chat). Invite or visit another member(s) there, ANY TIME. We can all get to know each other better:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/POIS/chat

First POIS Research Study, 2002

We have a copy of the first formal medical investigation on POIS by Prof. dr. Marcel D. Waldinger,MD,PhD, and Dr. Dave Schweitzer, MD.

  
Recent POIS Research Study, 2010

CASE REPORT
Postorgasm Illness Syndrome - A Spectrum of Illnesses
Jane Ashby, MRCP, and David Goldmeier, MRCP
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6576.msg316781#msg316781

There are a couple of ways to get either or both of the above 2 studies: (1) if you want a PDF copy, send me a Private Message (PM) with your regular email address (use "AT" instead of "@" ) and I'll send you back the PDF.

Or, if you prefer, (2) I can simply reply with a Private Message (no regular email needed) and provide you with a simple text version embedded in your PM.

To send a Private Message, click on "Messages" at the top of this page. At the Messages page, click on "New Message". From that point on, it works just like posting a message here, except that it only goes to the person(s) you designate.

Remember to put a quote around my name, i.e., "demografx".

New York Times article,

January 20, 2009
Mind
Sex and Depression: In the Brain, if Not the Mind
By RICHARD A. FRIEDMAN, M.D.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/health/views/20mind.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=friedman%20sexual%20January%2020&st=cse

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In addition to serving our own informational interests, the resources listed above can be useful for you to show our credibility to the medical world - which often shows little understanding and is sometimes skeptical of our condition: POIS has scientific underpinnings and POIS is not "just another psychological problem" related to sex - to be treated by the psychiatric/psychotherapeutic community. All of this information can greatly help you to fight the immediate reaction of some doctors: so just tell them, "IT'S NOT 'ALL IN OUR HEADS'! "

Also, it can be helpful when dealing with medical professionals to point out the successful existence of our rapidly growing forum, which has already been referenced in respectable sources such as the British Medical Journal and wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postorgasmic_illness_syndrome

For over 3 years, our POIS forum has attracted over 150 POIS sufferers worldwide who have posted here, plus over 700,000 page visits. Not bad for a rare malady!

[demografx]

seminewt and strike333, this post will help you find information about POIS that we have already discussed, by tailoring a Google search to this forum:


SEARCH THE FORUM WITH GOOGLE

We have an overwhelming amount of data: 3 years' worth of posts (nearly 9,000 posts!) from 150+ Forum members, and an additional 150 POIS sufferers found elsewhere on the Internet by Member B_Jim.

In the Google search box, type
whatever-it-is-you're-interested-in-finding-out[space]POIS[space]site:http://thenakedscientists.com/

for example, I tried
demografx POIS site:http://thenakedscientists.com/

and 1,000+ results came up for "demografx" within the Forum.

be careful with spaces (you can use them before the word "site") and no-spaces (everything after the word "site")

Google even provides you results with the Message# for each result. But Message #'s do change, so be patient and look for the approximate Message#.

[strike333]

can we somehow get pois in wikipedia, it would create some awareness

[my.delahaye]

Hello everyone,

First of all, sorry for my poor english, I'm a 26 years old man from Belgium, French is my native language.
Since I'm about 18 years old I have suffered from
* extreme tiredness (physical and mental)
* difficulties to speak for no specific reasons (can't find words, cannot make a clear sentence, making simple grammar mistakes, loss of spontaneity)
* general loss of memory
* reduced capacity to think clearly, lack of concentration (sometimes impossible to concentrate at all)
* from time to time pressure in the head which implies big pain in the eyes
* sensation in the head (it's not really pain, nor warmth ... I just feel something ... very hard to describe)
* depression, change of mood, negative

And these symptoms imply complete loss of self confidence, impossible to work (jobless now), no social life, no girlfriend.

Some days, I can speak very well and feel good, and at some days *I know* that it's better to stay home alone and better feel lonely than deceiving the people around, which increases depression.
Most of the people think of me that I'm too lazy and I was persuaded of this myself. But lately I understood that i'm constantly fighting against my tiredness, that i'm not lazy and I want to change, but I can't overcome it ...

I have seen several doctors for this, who sent me to psychologists, psychiatrist and psycho-therapeutist. It didn't help.
I have taken anti-depressants like Effexor and Sipralexa but it had no effects at all. Tried several types of vitamins, didn't help either.

I noticed that after ejaculation, it's a **complete disaster**. I feel *so* lazy, that I can't do anything at all ! Can't think, can't concentrate, can't speak fluently ...
I told that several times to the doctors, but seems they say it's psychological and send me again to some psychologist.
My brain has also been scanned (the pressure if i'm not wrong), but nothing was wrong.

I feel completely hopeless now, i typed on Google "ejaculation extreme fatigue" and came across this forum, I'm somehow happy to see that i'm not the only one with this problem.

Some more little details about me to complete the above (if any interest ... maybe people here can find something in common) which may absolutely not be related to the syndrome, but who knows :
- I have *a lot of* dandruff, can't get rid of them with any shampoo, many loss of hair, a huge quantity of sperm after ejaculation (very liquid), rings under eyes, lot of cerumen in ears.
Seems that my body produces too much ? I have done all the tests about thyroide, but doctors can't find anything wrong.
- articulation problem with left ear
- Obsessional character
- When a relation with girl gets more serious, I always find something negative about her physical appearance and I am getting annoying, and I feel I'm not myself, and I just *can't* change, it's stronger than me, I'm becoming so indifferent and having a cheap, mean humor ... so it's better for me, and for her, that I stop the relation.
- I didn't have a joyful past ... so this disease may be related to my past somehow, but seems that nobody can help me with it.

Has any member here found out something to get better ? It's a such a burden ... I can't stand it anymore.

Thank you for any attention
( Here is my email in any case: my.delahaye@gmail.com )

[Vandemolen3]

can we somehow get pois in wikipedia, it would create some awareness

POIS is already on Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postorgasmic_illness_syndrome

[Vandemolen3]

Hello everyone,

First of all, sorry for my poor english, I'm a 26 years old man from Belgium, French is my native language.
Since I'm about 18 years old I have suffered from
* extreme tiredness (physical and mental)
* difficulties to speak for no specific reasons (can't find words, cannot make a clear sentence, making simple grammar mistakes, loss of spontaneity)
* general loss of memory
* reduced capacity to think clearly, lack of concentration (sometimes impossible to concentrate at all)
* from time to time pressure in the head which implies big pain in the eyes
* sensation in the head (it's not really pain, nor warmth ... I just feel something ... very hard to describe)
* depression, change of mood, negative

And these symptoms imply complete loss of self confidence, impossible to work (jobless now), no social life, no girlfriend.

Some days, I can speak very well and feel good, and at some days *I know* that it's better to stay home alone and better feel lonely than deceiving the people around, which increases depression.
Most of the people think of me that I'm too lazy and I was persuaded of this myself. But lately I understood that i'm constantly fighting against my tiredness, that i'm not lazy and I want to change, but I can't overcome it ...

I have seen several doctors for this, who sent me to psychologists, psychiatrist and psycho-therapeutist. It didn't help.
I have taken anti-depressants like Effexor and Sipralexa but it had no effects at all. Tried several types of vitamins, didn't help either.

I noticed that after ejaculation, it's a **complete disaster**. I feel *so* lazy, that I can't do anything at all ! Can't think, can't concentrate, can't speak fluently ...
I told that several times to the doctors, but seems they say it's psychological and send me again to some psychologist.
My brain has also been scanned (the pressure if i'm not wrong), but nothing was wrong.

I feel completely hopeless now, i typed on Google "ejaculation extreme fatigue" and came across this forum, I'm somehow happy to see that i'm not the only one with this problem.

Some more little details about me to complete the above (if any interest ... maybe people here can find something in common) :
I have *a lot of* dandruff, can't get rid of them with any shampoo, many loss of hair, a huge quantity of sperm after ejaculation (very liquid), rings under eyes, lot of cerumen in ears.
Seems that my body produces too much ? I have done all the tests about thyroide, but doctors can't find anything wrong.
I didn't have a joyful past ... so this disease may be related to my past somehow, but seems that nobody can help me with it.

Has any member here found out something to get better ? It's a such a burden ... I can't stand it anymore.

Thank you for any attention
( Here is my email in any case: my.delahaye@gmail.com )

Hello Delahaye, it seems to be POIS. If you have POIS you feel about four days very bad. A feeling of being sick.

I recognize some symptoms. With your head: it's an increase of the temperature. And your ears: I've got that sometimes too. POIS has an impact on all your mucosa: eyes, ears, etc. And recently I've got infected gums because of POIS.

There is no cure yet. A few specialist are looking for it. We hope that maybe this year there will come a publication why people get POIS and what the cure is. So hold on!

[demografx]

my.delahaye, welcome to the POIS thread of The Naked Science Forum!




Here are some POIS resources which may be helpful to you:


Our POIS Information Website, built by "mat780", is here:
http://sites.google.com/site/POISwebsite/

Please see "B_Jim"'s POIS Summary of All Cases, here as well as others on the Web. This includes remedies that we have tested, and results.
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6576.msg149009#msg149009

Filling out the POIS survey created by "Counterpoints" can help you to share more POIS information and details with others here, as well as with future outside researchers.
http://pois.olympe-network.com/

"Girlwind" has created an excellent POIS Video:

Our new POIS chatroom (realtime chat). Invite or visit another member(s) there, ANY TIME. We can all get to know each other better:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/POIS/chat

First POIS Research Study, 2002

We have a copy of the first formal medical investigation on POIS by Prof. dr. Marcel D. Waldinger,MD,PhD, and Dr. Dave Schweitzer, MD.

  
Recent POIS Research Study, 2010

CASE REPORT
Postorgasm Illness Syndrome - A Spectrum of Illnesses
Jane Ashby, MRCP, and David Goldmeier, MRCP
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6576.msg316781#msg316781

There are a couple of ways to get either or both of the above 2 studies: (1) if you want a PDF copy, send me a Private Message (PM) with your regular email address (use "AT" instead of "@" ) and I'll send you back the PDF.

Or, if you prefer, (2) I can simply reply with a Private Message (no regular email needed) and provide you with a simple text version embedded in your PM.

To send a Private Message, click on "Messages" at the top of this page. At the Messages page, click on "New Message". From that point on, it works just like posting a message here, except that it only goes to the person(s) you designate.

Remember to put a quote around my name, i.e., "demografx".

New York Times article,

January 20, 2009
Mind
Sex and Depression: In the Brain, if Not the Mind
By RICHARD A. FRIEDMAN, M.D.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/health/views/20mind.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=friedman%20sexual%20January%2020&st=cse

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In addition to serving our own informational interests, the resources listed above can be useful for you to show our credibility to the medical world - which often shows little understanding and is sometimes skeptical of our condition: POIS has scientific underpinnings and POIS is not "just another psychological problem" related to sex - to be treated by the psychiatric/psychotherapeutic community. All of this information can greatly help you to fight the immediate reaction of some doctors: so just tell them, "IT'S NOT 'ALL IN OUR HEADS'! "

Also, it can be helpful when dealing with medical professionals to point out the successful existence of our rapidly growing forum, which has already been referenced in respectable sources such as the British Medical Journal and wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postorgasmic_illness_syndrome

For over 3 years, our POIS forum has attracted over 150 POIS sufferers worldwide who have posted here, plus over 700,000 page visits. Not bad for a rare malady!

[demografx]

my.delahaye, this post will help you find information about POIS that we have already discussed, by tailoring a Google search to this forum:


SEARCH THE FORUM WITH GOOGLE

We have an overwhelming amount of data: 3 years' worth of posts (nearly 9,000 posts!) from 150+ Forum members, and an additional 150 POIS sufferers found elsewhere on the Internet by Member B_Jim.

In the Google search box, type
whatever-it-is-you're-interested-in-finding-out[space]POIS[space]site:http://thenakedscientists.com/

for example, I tried
demografx POIS site:http://thenakedscientists.com/

and 1,000+ results came up for "demografx" within the Forum.

be careful with spaces (you can use them before the word "site") and no-spaces (everything after the word "site")

Google even provides you results with the Message# for each result. But Message #'s do change, so be patient and look for the approximate Message#.

[my.delahaye]

@Vandemolen,
Thank you for your response! I appreciate it very much.
Indeed, I feel bad during several days/weeks and I know that the only thing I can do is just wait for the recovery... However, i don't feel sick, but MAINLY very tired, lazy, negative and depressed. I don't feel any pain. (By the way, did you read my updates under "Some more little details..." ? Checked your posts and having some interesting similarities about relationships.)

@demo,
Thank you for your welcome message. I'm a programmer so if you need help with the website that would be welcome.

[demografx]

@demo,
Thank you for your welcome message. I'm a programmer so if you need help with the website that would be welcome.

THANK YOU! That is very much appreciated, my.delahaye !!

[CertainlyPOIS]

interms of  looking for scientist we s

@Vandemolen,
Thank you for your response! I appreciate it very much.
Indeed, I feel bad during several days/weeks and I know that the only thing I can do is just wait for the recovery... However, i don't feel sick, but MAINLY very tired, lazy, negative and depressed. I don't feel any pain. (By the way, did you read my updates under "Some more little details..." ? Checked your posts and having some interesting similarities about relationships.)

@demo,
Thank you for your welcome message. I'm a programmer so if you need help with the website that would be welcome.

i will send you a paper about something that can help while you wait for reasearh.
The paper is on how progesterone might help.