An elderly man went in for his routine check-up with his family doctor. After running the usual tests and giving him a good once-over, the doctor leaned back in his chair and smiled reassuringly.

“Well, Mr. Thompson,” the doctor said, “you seem to be in pretty good health for your age. Is there anything in particular that’s been bothering you or any concerns you’d like to talk about?”

The old man scratched his head and looked a little embarrassed before speaking up. “Well, Doc, there is one thing that’s been on my mind.”

The doctor encouraged him to go on, so he continued, “Whenever I make love to my wife, I’ve noticed something odd. The first time we do it, I usually end up feeling hot and sweaty. But if we go for a second round, I tend to feel cold and shivery. Is that something I should be worried about?”

The doctor raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled by the specificity of the complaint. After all, people experience a wide range of physical responses, especially in older age, but this pattern seemed… unique.

Not one to jump to conclusions, the doctor thanked Mr. Thompson for his honesty and told him he’d like to run the same check-up on his wife, just to get a complete picture.

Later that day, the doctor welcomed in Mrs. Thompson and performed a similar exam. She appeared to be in equally good health—vital signs steady, no major issues, everything within normal range for someone her age.

Once the physical check was complete, the doctor sat down with her and asked kindly, “Mrs. Thompson, is there anything medically that’s been bothering you? Any questions or concerns you’d like to bring up?”

The elderly woman shook her head. “Oh no, Doctor, I feel just fine. Nothing out of the ordinary, really.”

The doctor hesitated for a moment, then decided to share the concern her husband had brought up. “Well,” he began carefully, “your husband did mention something a bit unusual. He said that when the two of you make love, he often feels hot and sweaty the first time, and then cold and chilly after the second time. Do you happen to know why that might be?”

Mrs. Thompson let out a laugh that was part sigh, part amusement. She shook her head and smiled, clearly not surprised by her husband’s comment.

“Oh, that old fool,” she said with a chuckle. “That’s just because the first time usually happens in August—and the second time’s not until January!”