# What Causes The Inexplicable Shudder?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 4, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144 "2006-07-04T06:36:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/21 "2006-07-06T00:16:18Z")

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> [@mstay](#):
>
> If I’m in a warm, relaxed setting I’m more apt to experience them. I can sometimes do it on command by stretching and curling my body, especially when I’m sleepy and in a comfy bed.
> 
> Potentially TMI ahead…
> 
> It’s a delicious wave of tingliness that goes up and down my spine – it feels very similar to the ‘waves’ from an orgasm, although weaker, so I personally rather enjoy them. Am I a friggin’ weirdo or can anyone else relate?
> 
> The human body is a strange machine.

This response made me laugh. My girlfriend and I call these shudders “Vegan Orgasms.”

“Orgasm” because of what you mentioned, and “Vegan” because they come about with no beef/no fish.

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**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/22 "2006-07-06T01:13:11Z")

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> [@jjimm](#):
>
> Also occasionally occurs after 60% of gentlemen’s urination, and is known as “piss shiver”.

Oh, I used to get these all the time when I held off going to the bathroom for a long while–like back in highschool, when I’d wait until the end of the day to go. On my personal list of pleasurable experiences, it is/was right up there with orgasm. 😃 Still have the experience from time to time, but nowhere near as frequently. Maybe I need to start holding it again. 😉

In general, I’m fairly prone to the mysterious shudders, and’ve always thought I was a bit of a freak for it–I get lots of odd looks and questions from friends when one hits me, and when I say nothing’s wrong, that just gets me another odd look.

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**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/23 "2006-07-06T01:33:33Z")

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> [@jjimm](#):
>
> Also occasionally occurs after 60% of gentlemen’s urination, and is known as “piss shiver”.

The more cultured among us refer to this with a French accent, pronounced “Pay-Shiv-Airrr”

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**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2006, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/24 "2006-07-06T01:56:54Z")

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We don’t know. I mean, it’s inexplicable innit.

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**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/25 "2006-07-06T03:29:21Z")

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> [@yoyodyne](#):
>
> We don’t know. I mean, it’s inexplicable innit.

Heh, yeah, I guess you got me on that one.

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