Irish man loses memory after having sex with wife: Report
In a bizarre incident, a 66-year-old Irish man was hospitalized with short-term memory loss soon after having sex with his wife. The strange case was analyzed in the Irish Medical Journal's May issue, which was published on Wednesday. The medical journal reported that the man lost his memory "within 10 minutes of sexual intercourse." This medical condition is known as transient global amnesia (TGA).
Why does this story matter?
- TGA is defined by the Mayo Clinic as "a sudden transient global amnesia that is not caused by a more common neuropathy like epilepsy or stroke."
- An expert stated, "There should be no deficit other than memory and it should be brief."
- The incident is terrifying for the victims and their loved ones, but TGA isn't believed to be a serious medical condition.
More on transient global amnesia
A condition of this rarity affects individuals between the ages of 50 and 70 and has the capacity to "just disappear" things from memory. Some individuals with TGA may not recall what happened a year ago. Typically, affected individuals recover their memories within a few hours. In this instance, the patient's long-term memory was unaffected and he was able to recall his basic information.
Man suffered from similar episode in 2015 too
Reportedly, the 66-year-old had a similar TGA episode in 2015, which also occurred shortly after he had sex. He eventually regained his short-term memory, which was a huge relief. Even during the latest attack, the man went to a local medical emergency facility after realizing he was having another TGA episode. His memory subsequently returned and a neurological examination revealed he was "completely normal."
10% people with TGA could have another episode
According to the authors of the aforementioned Irish Medical Journal article, who serve in the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Limerick, up to 10% of people with TGA have another episode. The authors also say, "Precipitation of TGA has been linked with several activities, including physical activity, immersion in cold or hot water, emotional stress, pain, and sexual intercourse."
