How to self-check for POIS?

[Bloboh]

Hello, I recently learned about Post Orgasmic Illness Syndrome and wonder if it could be the health condition I have been looking for (as weird as that sounds).

I am 22 years old and have been having chronic issues in terms of mental clarity since I was about 12-13 years old. I would describe the main issues as feeling emotions less clearly, having trouble concentrating, feeling as if there is a glas bowl around my head and I am disconnected from the world around me in a sense. The issues have become slightly worse over the years, and they are basically always present. I have not yet managed to find the cause. My old GP did not take my problems seriously, but I got another GP last year and she seemed to want to help me figure some things out. She checked a few basic things in my blood, but that didn't get me any results, she also sent me to try therapy, but that was unproductive as well. Then the COVID pandemic came around, and I refrained from visiting my GP due to how strained the healthcare system in my country was at the time and my condition wasn't really urgent. But I will probably visit my GP again soon enough.

So I have been doing some research on my own for things I could look into when I visit my GP again. And eventually ran into POIS. Some of the symptoms seemed to match, but I have not established a direct connection between orgasm and my symptoms. It is not like the suddenly get worse. But I read the symptoms could stay up to 7 days and I masturbate quite frequently, so I felt like I could not rule out POIS yet. It would explain why I started experiencing these issues as I entered puberty for example. So my first question here is: can you have a form of POIS that causes more chronic issues, that do not necessarily get worse immediately after an orgasm?

Obviously, this is not an easy thing to discuss with my GP. I doubt she even heard of it before. So I would like to do a basic self-check before bringing it up. No, I do not want to self-diagnose, but I want to establish whether there is any connection between orgasms and my issues. I assume the best way to do that would be to refrain from having orgasms and see if things improve, but I thought I would check here if there are any tips on that. How long should I try this for in order to rule out POIS? Like I said, I read the symptoms can stay up to 7 days, would 7 days be enough to tell whether I have POIS or not? Or should I extend this experiment a bit longer? Are there any other things I can try to check if I could have POIS?

Thank you for your attention.

[demografx]

Bloboh, welcome to the forum!

[demografx]

Maybe you have POIS? (Post-Orgasmic Illness Syndrome). It’s a rare condition in which affected men develop a cluster of flu-like symptoms after ejaculation that can include extreme fatigue; brain fog; weakness; feverishness or sweating; mood changes or irritability; social anxiety; slurring of speech; digestive (gut) dysfunction; memory or concentration problems; and/or a stuffy nose or itching eyes. Symptoms may occur within seconds, minutes or a few hours or even days after ejaculation. Most symptoms last for 2 to 7 days and resolve spontaneously. The underlying cause of POIS is poorly understood but some scientists believe it may be an autoimmune condition. Rarely, females also have been reported with POIS.

POISCenter.com & NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders)

[Clues]

Bloboh, welcome to the forum!

For what it's worth, I had several chronic unexplained symptoms (such as brain fog) for decades, and even though I'd noticed orgasm would make me feel off the next day, I was nearly 40 before I realised that all my unexplained symptoms were down to the same condition, and that orgasm was one of the triggers that would amplify it greatly. It sounds dumb perhaps, but it makes sense if you think about it: Most POIS'ers have symptoms 2-7 days after orgasm. As a young adult I would masturbate several times per week, maybe once per day. And so I was constantly in that malaise of symptoms, and I had no way of connecting it to orgasm.

Suggestion on how to test yourself: Try to abstain from orgasm or any sexual stimuli including porn for a few weeks and see if your symptoms clear up a little. I'd also abstain from exercise, as many people on the forum including myself get a similar reaction from that. Disclaimer: I am obviously not a medical professional. Don't feel bad for self-diagnosing man. If you've gone 10 years without any help from your healthcare system, there's not much else you can do. A lot of us here are in the same boat for what it's worth.

[Quantum]

Hi Bloboh, and welcome !
About what to expect from your GP and how to present the problem, you can see the second half of this post :  https://poiscenter.com/forums/index.php?topic=2392.msg20182#msg20182
( section "what to expect from your first consultation with a doctor")

[LookingForACure]

Hello, I recently learned about Post Orgasmic Illness Syndrome and wonder if it could be the health condition I have been looking for (as weird as that sounds).

I am 22 years old and have been having chronic issues in terms of mental clarity since I was about 12-13 years old. I would describe the main issues as feeling emotions less clearly, having trouble concentrating, feeling as if there is a glas bowl around my head and I am disconnected from the world around me in a sense. The issues have become slightly worse over the years, and they are basically always present. I have not yet managed to find the cause. My old GP did not take my problems seriously, but I got another GP last year and she seemed to want to help me figure some things out. She checked a few basic things in my blood, but that didn't get me any results, she also sent me to try therapy, but that was unproductive as well. Then the COVID pandemic came around, and I refrained from visiting my GP due to how strained the healthcare system in my country was at the time and my condition wasn't really urgent. But I will probably visit my GP again soon enough.

So I have been doing some research on my own for things I could look into when I visit my GP again. And eventually ran into POIS. Some of the symptoms seemed to match, but I have not established a direct connection between orgasm and my symptoms. It is not like the suddenly get worse. But I read the symptoms could stay up to 7 days and I masturbate quite frequently, so I felt like I could not rule out POIS yet. It would explain why I started experiencing these issues as I entered puberty for example. So my first question here is: can you have a form of POIS that causes more chronic issues, that do not necessarily get worse immediately after an orgasm?

Obviously, this is not an easy thing to discuss with my GP. I doubt she even heard of it before. So I would like to do a basic self-check before bringing it up. No, I do not want to self-diagnose, but I want to establish whether there is any connection between orgasms and my issues. I assume the best way to do that would be to refrain from having orgasms and see if things improve, but I thought I would check here if there are any tips on that. How long should I try this for in order to rule out POIS? Like I said, I read the symptoms can stay up to 7 days, would 7 days be enough to tell whether I have POIS or not? Or should I extend this experiment a bit longer? Are there any other things I can try to check if I could have POIS?

Thank you for your attention.

POIS is fairly rare, so if you are having these problems and have not noticed a connection with orgasm, I think it is fairly likely that you have another condition. That being said, your symptoms sound like classic POIS, and there aren't very many conditions that share them. It may be worth staying abstinent for a while to see if it makes a difference. The "up to 7 days" figure is from the literature published on POIS. Many people in this forum have reported mild-moderate symptoms lasting for longer (even indefinitely), though I think the vast majority see at least partial improvement after a week. It may be safest to go for two weeks or so just to be sure.

I would check out the subreddit r/brainfog. Many people there share your symptoms, but do not have the connection with orgasm. Some common triggers for brain fog include low testosterone levels, low b12, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and hypothyroidism. All of these can be ruled out through lifestyle changes or blood tests. If your doctor is not willing to order the relevant tests for you, you can order them yourself from ultalabtests.com. When I was looking for labs, they were the most affordable company I could find. You'll still pay a pretty penny, but if you think like me, you'll know that health is priceless!

Notably, as mentioned above, I would avoid exercise while testing for POIS unless you are already in a stable routine. Some people here seem to have trouble with it. Though some feel better, so its possible discontinuing an exercise program may make you feel worse! Hot showers are another trigger that is sometimes mentioned, though I don't know how common it is.

I wish you the best of luck, Bloboh!