Could there be an allergy to sperm?

For sure questions about allergic sensitivity are not surprising. Millions of people suffer from such a disease, which significantly worsens the quality of their lives. And in some patients, during the diagnosis, an allergy to ... sperm is detected. Do not be surprised, it turns out, it happens.

In recent years, this variety of allergies has acquired a huge amount of myths and false facts. So what is actually a disease? Can it be dangerous? Are there effective methods of treatment? Answers to these questions will be of interest to many readers.

Is there really a similar form of allergy?

Today many people are interested in the question of whether there can be an allergy to sperm. Of course, a similar kind of disease is possible. After all, an allergy is a disorder that is associated with a violation of the normal functioning of the immune system, in which it reacts inappropriately to quite familiar substances.

Many people suffer from increased sensitivity to dust, animal hair, pollen of plants, not to mention food and medicines. In theory, allergy may occur when in contact with any chemical substance.

By the way, the allergy to sperm science has become known not so long ago - for the first time such an ailment was officially recorded in the 50s of the last century. It is possible that it exists much longer, simply in the past there was no necessary equipment for the diagnosis of such diseases.

It is worth saying that the sensitivity to sperm is very rare. Moreover, a woman may develop an allergic reaction when she comes into contact with one man, but not during sexual intercourse with another. By the way, some men also develop a skin reaction when they contact their own biomaterial.

Main Risk Factors

Unfortunately, not always doctors can find out why a woman has an allergy to sperm. In most cases, an incorrect immune response is observed when in contact with foreign proteins that are contained in the seed. In addition, increased sensitivity may be associated with male foods or medicines that are in one form or another fall into the biomaterial.

Moreover, in some cases, the allergic reaction is not associated with sperm, but with the representative of the stronger sex used cosmetics, shampoos or lubricants. These facts also need to be taken into account in the diagnostic process.

It is believed that the risk group includes women who already have an allergy to other substances, because if the work of the immune system is already broken, then another failure is possible. In addition, the state of the body is affected by the ecological situation, the quality of the products consumed, the intake of certain medicines, hormonal imbalance, persistent stress, nervous overexertion and other factors.

Allergies to semen: symptoms

Of course, the clinical picture of the disease is an extremely important issue. After all, the earlier the symptoms are seen, the faster it will be possible to begin the diagnosis and treatment. So how is the allergy to sperm?

As a rule, women complain of itching, swelling and a burning sensation in the vagina and external genitalia. These signs can occur either immediately after sexual intercourse, or after a few hours or even a day.

With severe allergies to local symptoms, such manifestations as sneezing, coughing, itching in the nose, burning sensation in the eyes are added.

Modern diagnostic methods

In the presence of such problems it is better to immediately seek medical help. Unfortunately, some women are embarrassed to negotiate such details of an intimate life, which is fundamentally wrong. If you are interested in a specialist, if there is an allergy to sperm, you will get an exhaustive answer to your question, plus you will find out if it is possible in your case.

Naturally, for the beginning it will be necessary to conduct a standard gynecological examination, take a swab from the vagina, take a blood test. What for? The fact is that in about 70% of cases, the itching after sexual intercourse indicates the development of specific sexual diseases, for example, chlamydia. A smear and a blood test will help identify an infection or inflammation.

If suspicions of STDs are not confirmed, the patient is recommended to donate blood for the detection of immunoglobulin E-specific protein, which is a kind of marker of an allergic reaction.

Further tests will be required. In particular, it will be necessary to find out which substance in the semen the organism reacts to. For this purpose, as a rule, various allergic skin tests are carried out. Only after a complete diagnosis the doctor will be able to choose the treatment.

An allergy to sperm: what to do? The main methods of treatment

Unfortunately, getting rid of allergies is not so simple - everyone knows about it, who at least once faced such a disease. After all, it is extremely difficult to "reprogram" the immune system.

So what if you have an allergy to sperm? Should I stop having sex? The doctor will give you the exact answers to these questions. But first you need to try to protect yourself from contact with an irritant, for example, use a condom during sexual intercourse.

In addition, the doctor probably will recommend you taking antihistamines. For example, the "Loratadin", "Suprastin", "Tavegil" and some others are quite effective in this regard. If there are rashes and itching, you can use antihistamine ointment, which will help to eliminate discomfort. By the way, if you take the pill before the sexual intercourse, the probability of developing a subsequent allergic reaction decreases.

Method of hyposensitization

To date, almost the only way to permanently get rid of allergies is the method of so-called hyposensibilization. What is its essence? A patient with allergies periodically contacts a small amount of an allergen. Naturally, under the supervision of a doctor. As the intensity of the allergic reaction decreases, the dose of the allergen is increased. This process is very long, but at the same time effective.

If you are allergic to semen, then most likely the doctor will try to find out which component of the biomaterial is causing the reaction, then select it and enter it in pure form in small doses under the skin (or treat the tissues).

Allergy and infertility - is there a connection?

To date, it is widely believed that an allergy to sperm causes infertility in a couple. In fact, this statement is not entirely true. Certainly, some of the spermatozoa die before they even have time to fertilize the egg.

But most often the allergy is not related to the male germ cells - the reaction occurs on some protein (less often another substance) that is in the seminal fluid. Under such conditions, fertilization is quite real.

Allergy and intolerance: what's the difference?

Allergies are often confused with semen intolerance, although there is a difference between the two disorders. If the allergic reaction is observed upon contact with a foreign protein, then intolerance is directed to the spermatozoa themselves. This is something like an autoimmune reaction, when the immune system begins to produce specific antibodies, under the influence of which male sex cells stick together and die. In such cases, the couple has another problem - infertility.

By the way, sperm intolerance is sometimes recorded among men - their body attacks and kills their own sex cells before ejaculation.

Fortunately, such a disorder is rarely recorded. As for the problem with infertility, doctors often recommend such pairs the introduction of sperm directly into the uterus with the help of special equipment or in vitro fertilization, in which the already impregnated egg is implanted in the uterine tissue. By the way, with such a pregnancy, the risk of spontaneous abortion is increased, so a woman needs to carefully monitor herself.