A33-year-old Irish man was hospitalized after attempting to treat chronic back pain by injecting his own semen, according to a 2019 case study published in the Irish Medical Journal (IMJ). The report, punnily titled “Semenly” Harmless Back Pain: An Unusual Presentation of a Subcutaneous Abscess, details the severe complications that followed 18 months of self-administered injections.
DIY Treatment Leads to Medical Emergency
The patient sought medical attention after experiencing a “severe, sudden onset lower back pain” following the lifting of a “heavy steel object three days prior”. During the physical examination, doctors discovered visible swelling in the man’s lower right arm. He subsequently confessed that the swelling resulted from injecting semen into the area using hypodermic needles purchased online.
The man revealed he had been practicing this self-devised remedy for approximately 18 months. Medical staff noted an extravasation of semen into the soft tissues—meaning the fluid had leaked into surrounding tissue due to numerous failed injection attempts—accompanied by a high white blood cell count.
Severe Complications and Hospitalization
The patient developed subcutaneous emphysema (air or gas trapped in the deepest layer of skin), significant swelling, and oedema (fluid retention). He was admitted immediately and treated with intravenous antimicrobial therapy for cellulitis, a bacterial infection of the deeper tissue layers.
Doctors warned that other potential complications of such a procedure include anaphylactic shock, tissue necrosis, and sepsis. Although the man’s back pain improved during his inpatient stay, he discharged himself before completing the prescribed course of treatment.
Medical Literature First and Official Warning
The IMJ case study emphasizes that this is the first documented instance of intravascular semen injection and associated abscess in medical literature. The journal explicitly ruled against the practice, concluding:
“While it is the first-ever described case of intravascular semen injection and associated abscess in the medical literature its lessons can be applied on a broader scale,”
“The dangers of venepuncture when carried out by the untrained layperson are highlighted as well as the vascular and soft tissue hazards surrounding the attempted injection of substances not intended for intravenous use.”
“The case also demonstrates the risks involved with medical experimentation prior to extensive clinical research in the form of phased trials inclusive of safety and efficacy assessments.”
Healthcare professionals urge the public to consult qualified medical practitioners for pain management rather than resorting to unverified, dangerous home remedies.
