If you ever needed an excuse to get out of going down on your partner, this may be it: a semen allergy. According to a new report from Dr. Michael Carroll, a lecturer in Reproductive Science at ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity, this is actually a real thing that affects the sexual health of approximately 12% of women. Carroll asserts that this is more likely to have an impact on your wellness if you’re between the ages of 20 and 30. But how do you know if you have a semen allergy?
Semen allergy presents with certain symptoms immediately or up to 60 minutes post exposure. While the symptoms of semen allergy can vary depending on who you are as an individual, a number of symptoms can impact your wellbeing, including:
- itching
- irritation
- welts and hives
- dizziness
- difficulty breathing
- vaginal swelling
- painful urination
Award-winning wellness writer Hope Gillette adds, ‘Some women can also experience eczema and in extreme cases… anaphylactic shock—a life-threatening condition—is possible.’ However, there can be a just as problematic emotional impact from semen allergy. In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Katie and Nathan (names changed), a North Carolina couple, detailed their experience with the condition. ‘In a normal romantic relationship, you want to feel attractive to your partner and want to do things that make you feel sexy,’ Katie explained. I feel like we actually started to define ourselves — minimizing things to avoid sex. Funny, I started thinking I wouldn’t wear sexy underwear. … What seemed like medical problems had bigger effects.’
The problem with semen allergy is that it often goes undiagnosed. Gillette notes, ‘Though rare, allergy to sperm is no different in basic form than other allergies; the body’s immune system—for an unknown reason—reacts violently to an outside substance, flaring up defences and causing a range of symptoms. While it’s impossible to know why a woman has a semen allergy, awareness of the condition may help more women seek treatment. Most women, especially those who haven’t been in a long-term relationship, experience burning or pain after intercourse and immediately think they’ve contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or they are dealing with a UTI. These women may seek STI or UTI testing, and when results come back negative they may forget about the incident, because by that time most minor symptoms have passed. Women with more severe symptoms and those who are in long-term relationship are most likely to seek medical treatment and therefore be diagnosed.’
Once you’ve confirmed with your doctor that you are allergic to semen, ColumbiaUniversity states that the best method of prevention is avoidance. ‘This is relatively easy if the couple is willing to use a condom during intercourse,’ Gillette comments. ‘If this is not possible for some reason (attempting to become pregnant, for example), a woman is advised to take an antihistamine about an hour before semen exposure. This can help in the most mild situations but may not prevent all symptoms from occurring. It is not advisable either to make an habit of this practice.’
However, pregnancy is still possible without semen-to-skin contact. Gillette advises, ‘Artificial insemination is an excellent option for women with a semen allergy. If that is not possible, in vitro fertilization is also an option, and a semen allergy does not affect a woman’s overall fertility.’ Carroll adds, ‘There are numerous cases published of successful pregnancies achieved naturally and through assisted reproductive technology in women with this condition. We were able to reassure our patients that HHS (hypersensitivity to human semen) does not cause infertility.’