A man had to be treated in hospital after injecting himself with his own semen in an attempt to cure chronic back pain.

The problem was revealed after he complained of back pain after lifting a heavy object.

However, doctors soon discovered a subcutaneous abscess on his arm as a result of his unusual injection habits.

It led to doctors beginning an intravenous antimicrobial treatment to deal with the issue.

However, the 33-year-old refused to have a build-up of the fluid - which he had been injecting regularly for 18 months, removed from his arm.

Details of his case have been revealed in the Irish Medical Journal, which notes there is no proof semen injections treat back pain or any other sores.

Dr Lisa Dunne - of the Adelaide and Meath Hospital in Dublin and author of the journal report - explained: "The patient disclosed that he had intravenously injected his own semen as an innovative method to treat back pain. He had devised this 'cure' independent of any medical advice.

"Upon further interrogation of this alternative therapy, he revealed he had injected one monthly 'dose' of semen for 18 consecutive months using a hypodermic needle which had been purchased online. Upon this occasion the patient had injected three 'doses' of semen intra-vascularly and intra-muscularly."

While there has been a report into the effects of "subcutaneous semen injection" into rats and rabbits, no such research has been carried out involving humans.

The authors of the report also suggest they couldn't find any discussion of such a "treatment" for back pain on more "eclectic" internet sites and forums.

They add that the case highlights the risks involved with medical experimentation before extensive clinical research, as well as broader dangers involved when injections are carried out by the "untrained layperson".

Meanwhile, the article does note the man's back pain did improve as a result of his time in hospital, even if he refused to have his arm drained.