Postorgasmic-Illness-Syndrome
POIS in Women: A First-Hand Story from South America
Postorgasmic-Illness-Syndrome (POIS) is most often discussed as a condition affecting men. Most published research, case studies, and online discussions focus on male patients and theories related to semen allergy or male hormonal responses. However, this does not mean that women cannot suffer from POIS. Their stories have simply remained unheard—until now.
POIS-Network is proud to share the first personal story from a woman living with POIS. Melissa is 22 years old and lives in Colombia. Her experience shines light on an often overlooked reality and reminds us that the condition may affect all genders, even if science has yet to catch up.
“It all started the first time I masturbated.”
From that moment, Melissa noticed profound and lasting changes in her body and mind. “My symptoms are constant and overwhelming,” she explains. “I feel extreme fatigue, brain fog, and mental slowing. Even simple tasks like studying or working can feel impossible.”
If she avoids masturbation or sex, her symptoms can linger for a month or two before slowly improving. “There’s no quick remedy,” she says. “Resting doesn’t help. It’s exhausting to want to function normally but feel completely stuck.”
In addition to fatigue and cognitive fog, Melissa also experiences headaches, sensitivity to noise, feeling unusually cold, and social anxiety. These symptoms have triggered bouts of anxiety and depression, further complicating her daily life.
Dismissed and Misunderstood
When Melissa first sought medical help, doctors dismissed her symptoms as psychological. “Many believed it was a trauma related to sex,” she recalls. “Hearing that, and seeing that no one really knew what I was experiencing, I decided to accept that diagnosis and stop looking for help.”
Her decision was also influenced by fear of being institutionalized and a desire not to worry her mother. “I told her everything, but I didn’t want to cause her more anxiety,” she says.
Finding Hope—and Other Women
For years, Melissa felt completely alone. “Everything I read said POIS was a male condition caused by a semen allergy,” she says. “It didn’t reflect my experience at all. I thought I was the only woman in the world with this.”
In 2025, a simple comment she read online—“no one is truly alone in the world”—gave her the courage to keep searching. That search led her to TikTok and Reddit, where she discovered other women with similar symptoms. “It was the first time I felt understood,” she says. “It gave me hope.”
A Message to Other Women
Melissa’s story marks an important step forward for the POIS community: a reminder that women can experience this condition too and that their voices are vital to advancing understanding and research. “Reading about other people’s experiences has been comforting,” Melissa says. “If someone out there feels isolated or misunderstood, I want them to know they’re not alone. Even small connections can make a difference.”
The POIS Network encourages women from all regions who experience similar symptoms to reach out and share their stories. Together, we can help expand awareness, promote research, and build a more inclusive understanding of POIS.
You can find Melissa’s full story here: POIS-Stories
If you’re a woman living with symptoms you believe may be related to POIS, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us at contact@pois-network.com.