Can You Be Allergic to Semen? An OB/GYN Weighs In

A semen allergy—often known as seminal plasma hypersensitivity—may cause something from discomfort in your genital and anal area to full-body allergic responses. It might sound scary, however don’t be concerned: This kind of allergy may be managed in quite a lot of methods, relying on its severity.

Unsure if that is what’s occurring to you? Learn on to be taught what a semen allergy is like, the way it’s identified, and what you are able to do to maintain issues comfy (and protected) within the bed room.

Associated Tales

What causes a semen allergy?

A semen allergy is your immune system’s response to the proteins in your accomplice’s seminal fluid, not the precise sperm, says Maureen Whelihan, MD, FACOG, an OB/GYN and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) fellow based mostly in Florida. Semen allergic reactions can irritate not simply the pores and skin round your genitals but in addition anyplace semen touches, like your palms and even the delicate tissues inside your mouth and throat. Consultants aren’t precisely certain why this occurs, however attainable culprits embrace sure drugs or hormonal adjustments like pregnancy or menopause.

Based on Dr. Whelihan, food sensitivities would possibly play a task right here, too. For instance, when you have a peanut allergy and have intercourse with a accomplice who ate peanuts, hint quantities of the nuts can come across in body fluids (like semen) and set off an allergic response, she provides.

There are several types of semen allergic reactions

Analysis reveals that there are two forms of semen allergy: localized and systemic. Whereas some individuals expertise a localized allergy (aka a response solely on the pores and skin that comes into contact with semen), others expertise a whole-body—or systemic—response. Here is a breakdown of what every entails:

• Localized: Impacts solely areas in direct contact with semen, just like the genitals, palms, or lips, inflicting burning or stinging sensations.
• Systemic: Hits the entire physique, with signs like bother respiration, swollen lips or tongue, hives, and even anaphylactic shock, a extreme, probably life-threatening allergic response (extra on this later).

Whereas each may be sequence and warrant a go to to your healthcare supplier, systemic reactions require rapid medical consideration.

What are the signs of a semen allergy?

As famous, most of the signs of a semen allergy resemble these of different allergic reactions, together with the next, per Dr. Whelihan:

• Itching, redness, swelling, or burning pores and skin
• Hives
• Swollen lips or tongue
• Hassle respiration
• Dizziness
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

It is uncommon for a semen allergy to set off anaphylactic shock, however should you occur to note signs like a swollen throat, weak pulse, or lack of consciousness, search rapid medical consideration at your close by emergency room.

How briskly do the signs present up? You will usually discover them within 30 minutes of contact (i.e., after sexual exercise), and so they can final hours to days. In some circumstances, you would possibly discover indicators of an allergic response the primary time you’ve intercourse with no condom. However semen allergic reactions may also occur out of the blue (even when you did not have one up to now), corresponding to after menopause or childbirth. Apparently, it will probably additionally have an effect on you with some companions however not with others.

Simply take into accout: A post-sex rash or irritation does not at all times imply you’ve a semen allergy, Dr. Whelihan says. Greater than possible, irritation is from both an an infection or pores and skin irritant (just like the lube you are utilizing or latex from the condoms) inflicting the difficulty. When you’re uncertain of the trigger, your healthcare supplier will help you work it out.

Who’s most in danger for a semen allergy?

Whereas anybody who has unprotected intercourse can have a semen allergy, it is exceedingly uncommon and tends to have an effect on individuals with a vagina or who “endure from different allergic reactions (immune system issues),” Dr. Whelihan says. Whereas some stories have estimated that about 40,000 people with vaginas in the U.S. have a semen allergy, this quantity may very well be increased since some individuals really feel embarrassed to carry the subject up with their healthcare supplier.

In even rarer circumstances, individuals with a penis who produce semen may be allergic to their very own seminal fluid—a situation referred to as post-orgasmic illness syndrome. Signs of this situation can occur inside minutes to hours of ejaculation and final for as much as seven days.

Can it trigger infertility points?

Fortunately, being allergic to semen can’t immediately contribute to infertility—i.e., issue getting pregnant. That mentioned, having such a allergy could make conception a bit trickier, particularly when you have a extreme systemic allergy that places your life in danger. Fortunately, there are numerous choices that will help you get pregnant.

The primary fertility possibility is a therapy referred to as intrauterine insemination (IUI), which includes medical doctors extracting sperm, “washing” them in a medical lab to take away problematic proteins, after which injecting them immediately into your uterus, Dr. Whelihan says. Different choices—often known as assisted reproductive technologies (ART)—embrace remedies like the next:

Methods to deal with a semen allergy

Avoiding semen is the only option to dodge an allergic response—merely use condoms or skip intercourse. For some individuals, even the pull-out method (the place your accomplice pulls his penis out of your physique earlier than ejaculating), may be useful, too, Dr. Whelihan says. However should you’re making an attempt to conceive, these methods in all probability will not be the most suitable choice for you. Right here’s how your healthcare supplier would possibly have the ability to assist, in line with current research:

• Remedy: Taking an antihistamine (like Benadryl) earlier than intercourse can ease signs. When you’ve had extreme reactions, your healthcare supplier would possibly prescribe an EpiPen (which is used for different kinds of allergic reactions).
• Desensitizing by way of immunotherapy: This therapy includes progressively exposing your physique to diluted semen by way of an intravaginal therapy. Over time, it will probably construct tolerance, however you’ll must have intercourse repeatedly (assume: a number of occasions per week) to take care of it.

Discuss to your supplier to determine the most suitable choice for you.

When to see a healthcare supplier

When you assume you might need a semen allergy (and it is holding you from having intercourse together with your accomplice), attain out to your healthcare supplier. It might really feel awkward to carry it up, however they’re professionals and are there to assist. Signs like swelling, itching, redness, or extra critical signs like bother respiration, nausea, or vomiting after intercourse may be handled.

To start out, your healthcare supplier will need to rule out different circumstances like vaginal infections via a pelvic exam. As a result of semen allergic reactions can mimic different circumstances—like STIs, vaginitis, or yeast infections—a skin test (injecting a small quantity of your accomplice’s semen underneath your pores and skin) might assist pinpoint the difficulty, per Dr. Whelihan.

One other easy check you possibly can strive at house? Use a condom throughout intercourse. In case your signs disappear, semen may very well be the offender. If not, different allergens like lubricants, spermicides, contraceptives, soaps, and even laundry detergents could be accountable. Regardless of the case, your supplier will help you resolve it and make it easier to discover aid.