Pon farr

Pon farr is a condition in the fictional Star Trek universe that induces the desire to mate in an adult Vulcan. The concept debuted in the 1967 episode "Amok Time", written by Theodore Sturgeon.

Symptoms

During Pon Farr (Blood Fever), the brain is thrown into a neurochemical imbalance and loss of logic and emotional control. The individual may stop eating and sleeping. The Pon Farr cycle begins when a Vulcan becomes an adult. A mate is chosen by the parents of the affected Vulcan, allowing the Vulcan to becoming bonded and to satisfy his urges.

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Although "Amok Time" suggests that an overpowering urge to return to Vulcan is one of the symptoms of pon farr, this occurred to such a lesser degrees during the pon farrs of T'Pol, Tuvok, and Vorik, that they were able to overcome the urge to return home.

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Pon Farr can be also triggered by infection, as seen in the Season Two ' episode, "Bounty" (2.25).

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