Dhat Monastery

Dhat syndrome ( Sanskrit: धातु दोष, IAST: Dhātu doṣa) is a condition found in the cultures of South Asia (including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) in which male patients report that they suffer from premature ejaculation or impotence, and believe that they are passing semen in their urine. The condition has no known organic cause.

In traditional Hindu spirituality, semen is described as a "vital fluid". The discharge of this "vital fluid", either through sex or masturbation, is associated with marked feelings of anxiety and dysphoria. Often the patient describes the loss of a whitish fluid while passing urine. At other times, marked feelings of guilt associated with what the patient assumes is "excessive" masturbation are noted.

Many doctors view dhat as a folk diagnostic term used in South Asia to refer to anxiety and hypochondriacal concerns associated with the discharge of semen, with discoloration of the urine, and feelings of weakness and exhaustion.

Dhat is thought to be a culture-bound syndrome similar to ''jiryan'' ( South-East Asia), ''prameha'' (Sri Lanka), and
''shenkui'' (China). Dhat syndrome might be related to other post-orgasmic diseases, such as post-coital tristesse (PCT), postorgasmic illness syndrome (POIS), and sexual headache.

Signs and symptoms

Young males are most often affected, though similar symptoms have been reported in females with excessive vaginal discharge or leucorrhea, which is also considered a "vital fluid". In addition, there are symptoms of fatigue and weakness. Patients with Dhat condition most normally ascribe their semen misfortune (secretion of semen in urine) to reasons like inordinate masturbation, sensual dreams, and unreasonable sexual longing. Nocturnal emission and secretion of semen in urine are considered to be the most widely recognized symptoms of semen misfortune. Patients with Dhat condition frequently dread the result of semen misfortune and regularly have the conviction that it will lead to decrease in sexual performance. The most widely recognized side effects in patients with Dhat condition are shortcoming of the body, sluggishness, low energy, and low temperament. Premature ejaculation and impotence are commonly seen. Other somatic symptoms like weakness, easy fatiguability, palpitations, insomnia, low mood, guilt and anxiety are often present. Males sometimes report a subjective feeling that their penises have shortened. These symptoms are usually associated with an anxious and dysphoric mood state. Another sign of this syndrome is white discharge. According to Ayurvedic, an Indian medical system, men who have experienced this have shown signs of anxiety issues. This disease is a culture bound syndrome. Semen loss is generally viewed as taboo and harmful. It is also associated with a lower socioeconomic class. Being able to produce semen is viewed as longevity of one's health and certain powers. In Indian culture, it is important for a man to produce semen.

Treatment

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the mainstay of treatment. At other times counseling, anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications have been shown to be of use. Doctors have found that antidepressant (PDE-5 inhibitors) medicines have shown positive results in controlling the Dhat syndrome's psychological causes."

Epidemiology

Dhat syndrome has been reported throughout South Asia in several communities."

History

The term ''Dhat'' gets its origin from the Sanskrit word ''Dhatu'' (धातु), which, according to the Sushruta Samhita, means "elixir that constitutes the body". Indian doctor Narendra Wig coined the term Dhat syndrome in 1960 and described it as being characterized by vague psychosomatic

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases