Semen Allergy May Cause Sickness from Sex

A semen allergy may be making some men sick from sex. While the headline may draw smirks, it is true.

Previously thought to be a psychological illness, men who experience post-orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) present with flu-like symptoms after ejaculation. Now, researchers are confirming that POIS is the result of a semen allergy.
POIS has been documented in medical journals since 2002. Up until now there has been no definitive research to explain the symptoms that these men experience after ejaculation. The small handful of case studies on POIS identified the cause as either psychological or due to hormone imbalances. Men with POIS experience flu or allergy-like symptoms within seconds or hours after ejaculation. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, fatigue, burning eyes, sneezing, muscle pain, confusion and headache. In some cases these symptoms may last up to a week.
Researchers at the Utrecht University in the Netherlands studied 45 Dutch men who experience POIS.
They discovered that these men did not present symptoms after sexual stimulation without ejaculation. The symptoms only occurred when ejaculation was present. Of the 45 men, 33 of them agreed to undergo skin-prick testing using a diluted form of their own semen. Of these men 88% tested positive for a semen allergy.
In a follow up study published in the same journal, researcher Dr. Marcel Waldinger and his team treated two of the patients with hyposentization therapy. This type of therapy, also known as allergen immunotherapy, is a standard form of treatment for allergies. Both patients were given small skin injections of their own diluted semen. Over the course of several years, the skin injection was given with stronger semen concentrations, allowing for the patents to slowly build tolerance.
The results of this study showed that both men significantly reduced their symptoms over the course of 3 and 5 years. Dr. Waldinger therefore concluded that this type of treatment could potentially cure POIS. Several more patients have been started on the same hyposentization protocol.
Other possible temporary treatments for the symptoms of POIS could include medications which treat allergies or autoimmune disorders.
POIS is believed to be a rare syndrome, affecting less than 1% of the population. Some believe that these numbers may be higher due to embarrassment preventing many men from reporting these symptoms to their heath care providers. Perhaps more awareness of POIS and the ability to successfully treat this semen allergy will encourage more men to come forward and to seek help from their doctors.

Vasectomy Reversal: What Men Should Know

Choosing to have your vasectomy reversed is a decision that men may face for a variety of reasons. Some men have post-vasectomy syndrome, causing chronic pain following vasectomy. The reasons are unknown, and vasectomy reversal may eliminate the problem.
Maybe you decide to start a family, for religious reasons. Practicing Catholics, newly indoctrinated may be required to rethink vasectomy as a means of birth control. You might seek vasectomy reversal simply change of thinking about starting a family down the road. Some men have vasectomy reversal because their partner is new - life circumstances change. Men should know about vasectomy reversal procedures to help decide whether to proceed.
Vasectomy is easier to perform than vasectomy reversal procedures. Vasectomy reversal may not be covered by insurance. Costs begin at around $10,000. Approximately half of vasectomy reversal procedures are successful. Men whose vasectomy was performed less than fifteen years before opting for vasectomy reversal have better chances of a producing viable sperm, according to some physicians. Others have documented success forty years after vasectomy. It may take as long as two years for your partner to become pregnant. The average time it takes for pregnancy is twelve months.
How long does it take to perform a Vasectomy Reversal?
Vasectomy reversal takes approximately four hours to perform. In most instances, you will go home the same day. After the procedure, recovery time is necessary before leaving the hospital or outpatient surgery center. You will receive either general or spinal anesthesia, a preference that should be discussed during your pre-operative visit.
Complications of vasectomy reversal
There is a risk of bleeding associated with any surgery. Your doctor will instruct you to discontinue any aspiring products, herbs or supplements that might promote bleeding. Check with your physician and pharmacist for any questions about medications or alternative medications that could cause bleeding.
Nerve damage is also possible during a vasectomy reversal procedure. Sperm can leak into the scrotum, causing a granuloma, which is a small mass. If a granuloma forms, your chances of reproducing a child decrease.
After vasectomy reversal
You will need to wear an athletic support. Rest and ice to the scrotum is expected to reduce any changes of swelling and bleeding after surgery. Follow-up visits to the doctor are important for sperm testing that can tell you whether vasectomy reversal succeeds. You will have a small incision on the underside of the scrotum. You should be back to normal within a week, able to resume work activities, without heavy lifting for four weeks. You should not engage in sex for two weeks after vasectomy reversal.
When vasectomy reversal fails
Many men choose to have their sperm frozen, ensuring during vasectomy reversal procedures. During the surgery, your doctor will identify healthy sperm using a microscope. Later, a procedure, known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can be used to directly implant your sperm into the egg of your partner. Vasectomy reversal is considered a failure if no sperm is found after twelve months. You should choose well-trained Urologist who has a record of success to perform your surgery.

Why men are more prone to heart disease

Men are more prone to - and likely to die of - heart disease compared with women of a similar age - and sex hormones are to blame, according to a new University of Leicester led study.
The findings of a study by Dr Maciej Tomaszewski, New Blood Lecturer in Cardiovascular Medicine in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester, suggest that this "male disadvantage" may be related to the sex-specific effects of naturally occurring sex hormones.
The research by Dr Tomaszewski and his colleagues, which has been published on line in the journal Atherosclerosis, involved 933 men aged, on average, 19 years, from the Young Men Cardiovascular Association study. The researchers looked at ways that the sex hormones - estradiol, estrone, testosterone and androstenedione - interacted with three major risk factors of heart disease (cholesterol, blood pressure and weight).
They found that two of these sex hormones (estradiol and estrone, called together estrogens) are linked to increased levels of bad cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) and low levels of good cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) in men.
This suggests that certain sex hormones may be important risk factors of heart disease in men, even before they present symptoms of coronary artery disease or stroke.
Dr Tomaszewski commented: "We hypothesised that circulating concentrations of sex hormones were associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors in men long before any apparent manifestations of cardiovascular disease such as stroke or myocardial infarction".
"We examined associations of circulating estrogens (estradiol and estrone) as well as androgens (testosterone and androstenedione) with major cardiovascular risk factors (lipids, blood pressure, body mass) in 933 young (median age – 19 years), apparently healthy men.
"Our studies showed that one of the sex hormones - estradiol - was associated positively with total cholesterol and negatively with HDL-cholesterol. Circulating concentrations of another sex hormone - estrone - showed strong positive associations with both total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.
"Thus, men with the highest concentrations of estrone and estradiol may have the highest level of cardiovascular risk as their levels of detrimental LDL-cholesterol are high whilst their cardio-protective HDL-cholesterol is low.
"Most importantly, the demonstrated associations between cholesterol and estrogens were independent of other sex hormones (testosterone and androstenedione), age, body weight, blood pressure and other potential confounding factors.
"Our data suggest that higher levels of estrogens may have negative influence on lipid profile in men early in life, before the apparent onset of cardiovascular disease.
"Why natural endogenous estrogens that are generally seen as cardio-protective in women increase cardiovascular risk in men remains to be elucidated. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm that higher levels of endogenous estrogens in youth increase the risk of heart disease later in man's life.
"A number of other investigations on sex-specific aspects of cardiovascular disease are in progress in our Department and I am sure that we will be able to continue providing information in this area of research in the future."

Prevalence of Erectile Dysfunction and Use of ED Medications Among Teens, Young Men

Erectile dysfunction medications and youth

A new study indicates a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and evidence of recreational use of erectile dysfunction medications (EDM) among adolescents and young men.
Researchers at Children's Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine conducted an anonymous survey of 234 sexually active males between the ages of 18-25 on the campuses of three national universities in Chicago. This survey � � � � � � � �" the first of its kind � � � � � � � �" found that a significant number of surveyed young men had used erectile dysfunction medications (EDM) such as Viagra� � � � � � � � � - many in conjunction with other recreational drugs, and most without consulting their physician.
Often associated with sexual dissatisfaction, decreased quality of life, depression and anxiety,� � erectile dysfunction has rarely been studied in adolescent males. This first study to gauge ED occurring with condom use (EDwC) indicates that men who have experienced ED while putting on a condom are four times more likely to use condoms inconsistently.
13%� � of the respondents reported erectile dysfunction, defined as "ever had difficulty getting or keeping an erection," but rarely discussed this with their medical providers.� � 25% reported� � erectile dysfunction occurring with condom use. "Our exploratory study examines the prevalence and correlates of ED, EDwC and EDM use in a community-based sample of college-age males," said Najah Musacchio, MD, fellow in General Academic Pediatrics and lead investigator. "Participants with EDwC were 4 times more likely to use condoms inconsistently, and 5 times more likely to have multiple sex partners in the last year, suggesting that EDwC may represent a barrier to safer sex and play a role in STI transmission," said Robert Garofalo, Director of Adolescent HIV Services.
A total of 302 college-age males completed a self-administered survey. Oral consent was obtained before survey administration. Sixty-eight participants (23%) reported no anal/vaginal sex in the past year and were excluded from analysis. Participants were predominantly white (66%), ages 18-20 (64%) and heterosexual (95%). Most (83%) had one to five sexual partners in the past year and 47% reported 100% condom use for anal/vaginal sex. Six participants (3%) had a prior STI, five of whom were men who have sex with men (MSM).
6%� � of surveyed men used erectile dysfunction medications.� � 57% of participants who took EDM used them to treat erectile dysfunction; 29% used them to enhance sexual performance.� � 64% percent of� � erectile dysfunction medications users mixed EDM with alcohol or illicit drugs; 36% with multiple other drugs. "Particularly concerning is mixing Viagra� � � � � � � and other EDM with alcohol and drugs, such as ecstasy or methamphetamine," said Musacchio. "Such drugs boost sex drive and reduce inhibitions, yet impair sexual performance.� � erectile dysfunction medication use may permit men in altered mental and physical states to engage in unsafe sexual behaviors, creating concern for unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STI)."
Survey participants rarely obtained their� � erectile dysfunction medication from a medical provider: most (54%) got EDM from their friends or other non-medical sources (39%) such as the Internet.
In studies with adult men who have sex with men (MSM), Viagra� � � � � � � use has similarly been associated with risky sex (increased number of sex partners, higher rates of STIs, and unprotected sex with HIV-positive partners). "Although small in number, the young MSM in our sample reported disproportionate� � erectile dysfunction medication use and STIs, possibly warranting exploration of these issues in this adolescent subpopulation," said Musacchio.
Survey findings suggest that� � erectile dysfunction and EDwC occur with some frequency in adolescents, and that these issues are rarely discussed with medical providers. Given the association between ED and negative health outcomes such as depression and sexual dissatisfaction, medical providers should ask adolescent males about ED and counsel them on potential health risks of� � erectile dysfunction medication and substance use, they advised. Providers should specifically inquire about EDwC, stressing the importance of using condoms with all sexual encounters.
"The topic must be addressed," Musacchio said. "Data indicates that ED and� � erectile dysfunction medications use is not uncommon in young males. It should be openly discussed in the medical community and between provider and patient � � � � � � � �" especially since it can lead to unsafe sex and other health risks."

Viagra Enhances Sexual Performance In Depressed Women

A recent study into the use of anti depressants has confirmed the suspicion that Viagra can help improve the sex performance of women on antidepressants. The study was published in the he Journal of the American Medical Association. Developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, Viagra is particularly popular in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction (impotence) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
The study released by U.S researcher on Tuesday reveals that women who took Viagra were less likely to have sexual side effects compared to those who took placebo. Depression has been linked to sexual dysfunction in some cases. It is thought that many women abandon drugs and resort to treating depression.
The doctors who conducted the study, from the University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine acknowledge that between 30 to 70 percent of depression treatment is related to sexual dysfunction.
Whereas Viagra has always been said to help depressed women, the latest study is the first of its kind that has scientific proofs.
In a combined statement with colleagues, Dr. H. George Nurnberg of the University of Mexico said that “By treating this bothersome treatment-associated adverse effect … patients can remain antidepressant-adherent, reduce the current high rates of premature medication discontinuation, and improve depression disease management outcomes.”
Te research funded by Pfizer Inc, maker of Viagra studied a group of 98 women with an average age of 37 years who reported sexual dysfunction. All the women were all on antidepressants and had shown lack of sexual orgasm or arousal.
The researchers found that only 28% of women taking Viagra showed no improvement compared to 73% of women taking a placebo. The study also reported very minor effects.
Sexual dysfunction is commonly linked with using antidepressants, including selective and non selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
The sale of Viagra has been dwindling in recent years. Viagra has almost a Markey share of 92 percent in the year 2000.However, with the introduction of competitors like Cialis and Levitra, along with other counterfeits and clones, the market share reduced drastically to 50 percent. The recent study will no doubt increase the sale of the popular Viagra pills.

Priapism Responds to New Treatment

Priapism, which many may know better as an erection that lasts longer than four hours, has responded well to a new treatment tested by researchers at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. At this point, men who develop priapism have few treatment choices for this painful condition.
Men are warned about the possibility of priapism every time they hear a commercial for prescription medication taken to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), yet the term for this rare side effect of ED drugs is seldom used. Priapism develops when blood in the penis becomes trapped and cannot drain out. The condition can occur in males of any age, including newborns, but it is most common between the ages of 5 and 10 years and 20 to 50 years. It is highly associated with leukemia, sickle cell disease, and other blood disorders.
If priapism is not treated immediately, it can result in penile fibrosis, a condition that involves scarring and permanent erectile dysfunction. Thus the announcement that a new treatment could offer a solution can be encouraging for the thousands of men who are afflicted by this condition. The new treatment is actually a novel use for an FDA-approved (Food and Drug Administration) drug called polyethylene glycol-linked adenosine deaminase (PEG-ADA), which is used to treat people who have a deficiency of adenosine deaminase enzyme (ADA). People who are ADA deficient have a condition called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease.
Researchers at The University of Texas propose that priapism is associated with elevated levels of adenosine, a finding they made during previous research in ADA-deficient mice that had long-lasting spontaneous erections. In that study they showed they could prevent and treat priapism in mice. In this latest study, the investigators used PEG-ADA in a group of mice with sickle cell disease features and another group with ADA enzyme deficiency and showed they could prevent penile fibrosis.
Men who have sickle cell disease have a 40 percent chance of developing priapism. The current treatment options for priapism include pain control medication, hydration, and surgery. None of these choices are especially effective. Introduction of a medication that would prevent or treat this condition would be most welcome.