And then there are men who have bigger, scarier, more debilitating sexual problems to deal with—like semen allergies and sexsomnia (yes, it’s exactly what you think it is).
Here are five unusual sexual disorders (thankfully few) men can encounter in their lifetime. Thank your lucky stars if you never come across them, then start showing your manhood some love.
5 of the strangest, most shocking sexual disorders in men
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Persistent genital arousal disorder
Persistent genital arousal disorder is a remarkably rare condition, and affects more women than men (only a couple men have been diagnosed thus far). People with PGAD suffer from intense, frequent arousal, according to the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy—but not the kind of arousal you get when you’re hot and heavy with desire for your lady. It’s all-consuming, blinding, and more or less unquenchable. It’s also independent of any dirty thoughts or desires, so you could be riding the bus, folding socks, or cleaning the muck from your gutters, and have a long-lasting erection, feeling like you’re constantly on the verge of orgasm. Masturbation and sex offer little to no relief, either.PGAD could be present from the onset of someone’s life or begin at any age. It can also vary in its intensity. Professionals believe it can be induced by severe anxiety, according to the British Journal of Medical Practitioners. Because of this, treatment can vary. Some professionals prescribe numbing gels, while others recommend therapy.
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Retrograde ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation isn’t as crushing as some of the other disorders on this list. When a man orgasms, his ejaculate is shot back into the bladder instead of, well, you know, out the end of his penis, according to the Cleveland Clinic. In essence: You’re not shooting blanks, you’re backfiring.While premature ejaculation is typically caused by stress, low confidence, or over-eagerness, retrograde ejaculation is most common in men with diabetes who suffer from nerve damage, because nerves in the bladder and bladder neck force the ejaculate backward. But men without diabetes can also suffer the affliction as a possible side effect of medication or an operation on the bladder or prostate.
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Sexsomnia
Sure, peeing in your T-shirt drawer is a sucky consequence of sleep walking, but some people have more dire concerns to worry about when they snooze. Sexsomnia is a dangerous condition where men and women engage in some type of sexual behavior while deep asleep, which can obviously have grave outcomes. In a poll from The Sleep School, including 13,000 participants, about 9% reported engaging in sexual behaviors while asleep. This can be anything from masturbation to fondling, to sex with climax and even sexual assault, according to research published inJournal Sleep.Sexsomnia, like other sleep disorders, can be triggered by sleep deprivation, high levels of stress, and binge drinking. If your partner—or roommate, friend, etc.—comes on to you in the middle of the night, and it feels out of character, there are a few ways to tell whether or not she’s sleeping. Experts say those who sleep walk or engage in sleep sex have glazed eyes and a vacant expression. Of course, asking a few frantic questions usually solves that problem too, but it’s good to know the symptoms anyway.
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Diphallia or penile duplication
There’s no denying the shock factor of this condition: Some men are born with two penises. Diphallia is extraordinarily rare, affecting about one in 5.5 million, according to a literature review published in Case Reports in Urology. The first case was a man from Bologna, Italy, in 1609, and there have only been about 100 reported cases overall.Medical professionals believe diphallia occurs when a fetus is developing in the womb. Something goes awry when the rectum and penis are forming. More often than not, one penis is larger than the other. Functionality varies, too. Some men are able to urinate and have sexual intercourse with both, while some can’t. Diphallic men also have higher odds of being infertile and may have defects in the kidneys, spine, colon, anus, or rectum, experts say.
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Post-orgasmic illness syndrome
Post-orgasmic illness syndrome is a condition in which a man develops flu-like symptoms after ejaculating. We’re not talking the usual sleepiness post-romp—men with POIS can suffer from extreme fatigue, weakness, feverishness and sweating, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, stuffy nose, and sometimes itchy eyes, according to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. The symptoms can begin a few seconds, minutes, or hours after climaxing. And here’s the kicker: These symptoms are really like the flu, and last anywhere from two to seven days. They will, however, go away without medication.Some experts believe it’s due to a semen allergy—once a man reaches orgasm, his body immediately has a hypersensitivity reaction. Because of this, some men try to manage their symptoms with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antihistamines, or benzodiazepines. Hyposensitization therapy has worked in some cases, too, according to research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Men had improved symptoms after receiving injections of autologous semen for two-week intervals in the first year, then four-week intervals in the second and third year.
Persistent genital arousal disorder is a remarkably rare condition, and affects more women than men (only a couple men have been diagnosed thus far). People with PGAD suffer from intense, frequent arousal, according to the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy—but not the kind of arousal you get when you’re hot and heavy with desire for your lady. It’s all-consuming, blinding, and more or less unquenchable. It’s also independent of any dirty thoughts or desires, so you could be riding the bus, folding socks, or cleaning the muck from your gutters, and have a long-lasting erection, feeling like you’re constantly on the verge of orgasm. Masturbation and sex offer little to no relief, either.
PGAD could be present from the onset of someone’s life or begin at any age. It can also vary in its intensity. Professionals believe it can be induced by severe anxiety, according to the British Journal of Medical Practitioners. Because of this, treatment can vary. Some professionals prescribe numbing gels, while others recommend therapy.
Retrograde ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation isn’t as crushing as some of the other disorders on this list. When a man orgasms, his ejaculate is shot back into the bladder instead of, well, you know, out the end of his penis, according to the Cleveland Clinic. In essence: You’re not shooting blanks, you’re backfiring.
While premature ejaculation is typically caused by stress, low confidence, or over-eagerness, retrograde ejaculation is most common in men with diabetes who suffer from nerve damage, because nerves in the bladder and bladder neck force the ejaculate backward. But men without diabetes can also suffer the affliction as a possible side effect of medication or an operation on the bladder or prostate.
Sexsomnia
Sure, peeing in your T-shirt drawer is a sucky consequence of sleep walking, but some people have more dire concerns to worry about when they snooze. Sexsomnia is a dangerous condition where men and women engage in some type of sexual behavior while deep asleep, which can obviously have grave outcomes. In a poll from The Sleep School, including 13,000 participants, about 9% reported engaging in sexual behaviors while asleep. This can be anything from masturbation to fondling, to sex with climax and even sexual assault, according to research published inJournal Sleep.
Sexsomnia, like other sleep disorders, can be triggered by sleep deprivation, high levels of stress, and binge drinking. If your partner—or roommate, friend, etc.—comes on to you in the middle of the night, and it feels out of character, there are a few ways to tell whether or not she’s sleeping. Experts say those who sleep walk or engage in sleep sex have glazed eyes and a vacant expression. Of course, asking a few frantic questions usually solves that problem too, but it’s good to know the symptoms anyway.
Diphallia or penile duplication
There’s no denying the shock factor of this condition: Some men are born with two penises. Diphallia is extraordinarily rare, affecting about one in 5.5 million, according to a literature review published in Case Reports in Urology. The first case was a man from Bologna, Italy, in 1609, and there have only been about 100 reported cases overall.
Medical professionals believe diphallia occurs when a fetus is developing in the womb. Something goes awry when the rectum and penis are forming. More often than not, one penis is larger than the other. Functionality varies, too. Some men are able to urinate and have sexual intercourse with both, while some can’t. Diphallic men also have higher odds of being infertile and may have defects in the kidneys, spine, colon, anus, or rectum, experts say.
Post-orgasmic illness syndrome
Post-orgasmic illness syndrome is a condition in which a man develops flu-like symptoms after ejaculating. We’re not talking the usual sleepiness post-romp—men with POIS can suffer from extreme fatigue, weakness, feverishness and sweating, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, stuffy nose, and sometimes itchy eyes, according to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. The symptoms can begin a few seconds, minutes, or hours after climaxing. And here’s the kicker: These symptoms are really like the flu, and last anywhere from two to seven days. They will, however, go away without medication.
Some experts believe it’s due to a semen allergy—once a man reaches orgasm, his body immediately has a hypersensitivity reaction. Because of this, some men try to manage their symptoms with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antihistamines, or benzodiazepines. Hyposensitization therapy has worked in some cases, too, according to research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Men had improved symptoms after receiving injections of autologous semen for two-week intervals in the first year, then four-week intervals in the second and third year.
