Syndrome de la maladie post-orgasmique

Abstract

Le "postorgasmic illness syndrome" (POIS) ou « syndrome de la maladie post-orgasmique » (SMPO) est un syndrome rare décrit récemment qui regroupe un ensemble de symptômes cliniquesphysiques ou cognitifs-apparaissant électivement après une éjaculation ou un orgasme et pouvant perdurer plusieurs jours. Les étiologies et les mécanismes physiopathologiques du POIS restent discutés. Une allergie à une des protéines composant le liquide séminal ou à une protéine excrétée pendant l'éjaculation, une origine psychosomatique, un équivalent migraineux ou épiletique, et une dysrégulation végétative restent les mécanismes les plus évoqués. Mots-clés : Postorgasmic Illness Syndrome Postorgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) is a rare and recently described syndrome. It gathers a set of clinical symptoms-physical or cognitive-that occur electively after an ejaculation or an orgasm and may last several days. The etiologies and physiopathological mechanisms of POIS remain discussed. An allergy to one of the proteins composing the seminal fluid or to a protein excreted during ejaculation, a psychosomatic origin, a migrainous or epileptic equivalent, and a vegetative dysregulation remain the most evoked mechanisms.

Post orgasmic illness syndrome: what do we know till now?

“…Using data from 57 reported cases of men with POIS, from which Waldinger et al published 47 [1, 2], we found that the presentation of POIS was highly variable: concentration difficulties, extreme fatigue, exhaustion and fever, body warmth, perspiration, shivering, mood disturbances, irritability and memory difficulties [1–8]. This is why we think that the discoverers of this syndrome, after further research, suggested 5 preliminary diagnostic criteria to assess the large spectrum of this disease [2].…”

“…The pathophysiology of POIS is not clear yet and it has been explored by few studies so far; hypotheses include: an immunological phenomenon [2–5], an opioid-like withdrawal [6], a neuroendocrine response [7], a transient deregulation of the autonomic nervous system [8], a hypersensitivity and disordered cytokines [10, 11].…”

“…Finally, Bignami et al considered that POIS is the manifestation of a transient dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system since it is well known that ejaculation triggers a “vegetative storm” with an increase in sympathetic activity and a release of norepinephrine [8].…”

“…Of note, many authors described a lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) among their POIS patients [2, 6, 8]. PE in these men is probably induced by forced abstinence and low frequency of sexual activity [2].…”

“…These patients also wanted to reduce ejaculation frequency as much as they can despite strong desire to sexual relationship, to avoid the disturbing consequences of ejaculation on their life and work [3]. However, none of the authors discussed whether autonomic imbalance may account for PE since they considered it as an associate symptom to POIS and not a phenotype of this syndrome [2, 6, 8].…”