Sperm allergy means having an allergic reaction to the proteins found in a man’s semen. In fact, this condition can sometimes affect only one part of the body, and sometimes it can show various symptoms in different parts of the body.
Since women are the group that suffers most from this condition, this allergy can often present with symptoms such as vaginal swelling, pain, itching, burning sensation and yeast infection. Symptoms may appear 10 or 30 minutes after contact with sperm. So let’s get down to the details of this allergic reaction.
This condition is usually discovered after a woman has had sexual intercourse for the first time.
As we have just mentioned, this problem does not manifest itself by reacting only in one part of the body, such as the vagina, for example. It can also occur in any area that comes into contact with sperm, such as the skin and mouth. Symptoms go away in a few hours for some. But some people may experience these symptoms even for a few days. As you can see, each person’s body is affected differently by this situation.
For example, in the bodies of some people, what we call urticaria occurs, that is, urticaria (red blisters) appear on the skin. Even those who experience advanced symptoms may have difficulty breathing. In addition, this problem can even cause a life-threatening anaphylaxis (a fatal allergic reaction to an object) type of allergy. If something like this happens, immediate action is needed.
Women with sperm allergies sometimes do not experience this when they are with their first partner. They may experience this situation in one of their second or third partners. So we can say that this is quite a complicated situation.
Most of the time, this situation is not understood correctly when the person goes to the examination. For example, a woman may receive a diagnosis such as vaginitis, yeast infection or genital herpes.
According to experts, the use of condoms should be asked for the differential diagnosis of this condition. If the woman has this allergy, she will not show any symptoms during sexual intercourse by using a condom. However, if unprotected sexual intercourse occurs and symptoms appear, it may be possible to suspect this condition, according to doctors.
Also, with a fungal infection, there is an odorless discharge that looks like cottage cheese or is white like curdled milk. However, according to the statement of gynecologist Jennifer Wider, this discharge is not seen in someone with a semen allergy.
Of course, this can be a little frustrating for couples. Especially women who want to get pregnant can have difficulties due to allergies because they have to have unprotected intercourse. But this is certainly not something to be magnified or feared, according to experts.
When people with such a problem apply to the doctor and follow the necessary directions, there is no obstacle in their way to have a child. And this allergy does not affect fertility either. In other words, there is no such thing as a woman cannot have a child just because she has allergies.
In fact, although the majority of people with sperm allergy are women, it can be said that men also experience this problem, even if only sporadically. In fact, in one study, a 27-year-old male case who had an allergic reaction after having an orgasm surprised doctors.
This male is applying to the urology department of Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. However, his complaints are found very interesting by doctors. Namely, the man talks about experiencing symptoms such as coughing after ejaculation, swollen lymph nodes in his neck, hives in his arms, flu and sneezing for 9 years.
After listening to the patient’s symptoms, which began at the age of 18, the doctors observed that the tubes in his testicles (they are the tubes that produce sperm) swell painfully, with or without orgasm as a diagnosis. After the examination, the doctors also stated in their reports that the patient avoided sexual intercourse because his symptoms were disturbing.
Eventually, the man is diagnosed with post-orgasmic sickness syndrome. In fact, this disease is something that has never been seen before. It’s unexpected as there are fewer than 60 cases that medicine has ever described.
People who suffer from this issue may experience flu-like symptoms even up to seven days after they have an orgasm. Other symptoms of the disease include fatigue, absent-mindedness, headaches, emotional changes, and inability to focus.
Of course, since this is a condition called orgasm allergy, it is not exactly like a sperm allergy. However, the appearance of urticaria-like swellings on the skin in both shows that there is a similarity between them. The most important detail that should not be forgotten in this regard is that doctors are the only authorities to be consulted by those with suspected sperm or orgasm allergy.
In other words, whatever the most appropriate treatment is for the person, the doctors are the only ones who can provide it. For example, this case is being treated with antihistamine (allergy drugs). The study reported that the treatment works in 90% of cases. However, the treatment that works in this example may not work for everyone. As a result, to reiterate, no one should go into the mentality of “I have this disease” without consulting a doctor.
- Sources: Self, Science Direct, ISSM
- Image Sources: The Hint Today, MEL Magazine, Latestly, Time, VICE, Healthline, MEL Magazine 2
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