Surely questions about allergic sensitivity are no longer surprising. Millions of people suffer from this disease, which significantly worsens their quality of life. And in some patients, during the diagnostic process, an allergy to … sperm is found. Do not be surprised, it turns out that this happens.
In recent years, this type of allergy has acquired a huge number of myths and false facts. So what exactly is disease? Can she be dangerous? Are there effective treatments? The answers to these questions will be of interest to many readers.
Does this form of allergy really exist?
Today, many people are interested in the question of whether there can be an allergy to sperm. Of course, this kind of disease is possible. After all, allergy is a disorder that is associated with a disruption in the normal functioning of the immune system, in which it reacts inadequately to quite familiar substances.
Many people suffer from hypersensitivity to dust, animal hair, plant pollen, not to mention food and medicinal productspreparations. In theory, it is possible to develop allergies in contact with any chemical substance.
By the way, sperm allergy became known to science not so long ago - for the first time such a disease was officially recorded in the 50s of the last century. It is possible that it has existed for much longer, just that in the past there was no necessary equipment for diagnosing such diseases.
It is worth saying that increased sensitivity to sperm is extremely rare. Moreover, a woman may have an allergic reaction when in contact with one man, but not during intercourse with another. By the way, some men also develop a skin reaction when in contact with their own biomaterial.
Key risk factors
Unfortunately, doctors are not always able to find out why a woman is allergic to sperm. In most cases, an incorrect immune response is observed upon contact with foreign proteins that are contained in the seed. In addition, hypersensitivity may be associated with the food or drugs used by the man, which in one form or another enter the biomaterial.
Moreover, in some cases, the allergic reaction is not associated with sperm, but with cosmetics, shampoos or lubricants used by the stronger sex. These facts also need to be taken into account in the diagnostic process.
Women are considered to be at risk,who are already allergic to other substances, because if the immune system is already disrupted, then another failure is quite possible. In addition, the state of the body is affected by the environmental situation, the quality of the products consumed, the intake of certain medications, hormonal imbalances, constant stress, nervous strain and other factors.
Sperm Allergy: Symptoms
Of course, the clinical picture of the disease is an extremely important issue. After all, the sooner the symptoms are noticed, the sooner it will be possible to begin diagnosis and treatment. So how does a semen allergy manifest?
As a rule, women complain of itching, swelling and burning sensation in the vagina and vulva. These signs can occur both immediately after intercourse, and after several hours or even days.
In severe allergies, local symptoms are accompanied by such manifestations as sneezing, coughing, itching in the nose, burning in the eyes.
Modern diagnostic methods
In the presence of such problems, it is better to immediately seek medical help. Unfortunately, some women are embarrassed to discuss such details of intimate life, which is fundamentally wrong. By asking a specialist if there is an allergy to sperm, you will receive an exhaustive answer to your question, plus you will find out if it is possible in your case.
Of course, first you will need to conduct a standard gynecological examination, take a swab from the vagina, take a blood test. What for? The fact is thatin about 70% of cases, itching after intercourse indicates the development of specific sexual diseases, such as chlamydia. A smear and blood test will help identify an infection or inflammation.
If suspicions of STDs are not confirmed, then the patient is recommended to donate blood for the detection of immunoglobulin E - a specific protein that 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 body reacts to. For this purpose, as a rule, various allergic skin tests are performed. Only after a complete diagnosis, the doctor will be able to choose the treatment.
Sperm allergy: what to do? Basic treatments
Unfortunately, getting rid of allergies is not so easy - everyone who has ever encountered such an ailment knows this. After all, "reprogramming" the immune system is extremely difficult.
So what do you do if you are allergic to semen? Should I stop having sex? Your doctor will give you the exact answers to these questions. But first you need to try to protect yourself from contact with an irritating substance, for example, use a condom during intercourse.
Also, your doctor will probably recommend you take antihistamines. For example, Loratadin, Suprastin, Tavegil and some others are quite effective in this regard. In the presence ofrashes and itching, you can use an antihistamine ointment, which will help eliminate discomfort. By the way, if you take a pill before sexual intercourse, then the likelihood of a subsequent allergic reaction is reduced.
Deepsensitization method
Today, perhaps the only way to get rid of allergies forever is the method of so-called hyposensitization. What is its essence? A patient with an allergy periodically comes into contact with a small amount of the allergen. Naturally, under medical supervision. 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 sperm, then most likely the doctor will try to find out which component of the biomaterial is causing the reaction, after which he will isolate it and will inject it in its pure form in small doses under the skin (or process tissues).
Allergies and infertility - is there a connection?
Today, it is widely believed that sperm allergy causes infertility in couples. In fact, this statement is not entirely true. Of course, some sperm die before they have time to fertilize the egg.
But most often the allergy has nothing to do with male reproductive cells - the reaction occurs to some protein (rarely another substance) that is in the seminal fluid. Under such conditions, fertilization is quite possible.
Allergies and intolerances: what's the difference?
Allergies quite oftenconfused with sperm intolerance, although there is a difference between the two disorders. If an allergic reaction is observed upon contact with a foreign protein, then intolerance is directed to the spermatozoa themselves. This is something similar to an autoimmune reaction, when the immune system begins to produce specific antibodies, under the influence of which male germ 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 its own germ cells even before ejaculation.
Fortunately, this disorder is rare. As for the problem with infertility, doctors often recommend to such couples the introduction of sperm directly into the uterus using special equipment, or in vitro fertilization, in which an already fertilized 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 take better care of herself.
