Surely you will not surprise anyone with questions about allergic sensitivity. Millions of people suffer from such an ailment, which significantly affects 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 that it happens.
In recent years, this type of allergy has overgrown with a huge number of myths and false facts. So what exactly is a disease? Could it be dangerous? Are there effective treatments? The answers to these questions will be of interest to many readers.
Is there really such a form of allergy?
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 inappropriately to completely familiar substances.
Many people suffer from hypersensitivity to dust, animal hair, pollen, not to mention food and drugs. In theory, allergies can occur in contact with any chemical.
By the way, the allergy to sperm science became 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, just in the past there was no necessary equipment for the diagnosis of such diseases.
It is worth saying that hypersensitivity to sperm is recorded extremely rarely. Moreover, a woman may have an allergic reaction when in contact with one man, but not present during intercourse with another. By the way, some men also observe the development of a skin reaction 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 abnormal immune response is observed when in contact with foreign proteins contained in the seed. In addition, hypersensitivity may be associated with the food used by a man or drugs, which in one form or another fall into the biomaterial.
Moreover, in some cases, an allergic reaction is not associated with semen, but with cosmetics, shampoos, or a lubricant used by the stronger sex. These facts also need to be taken into account in the diagnostic process.
It is believed that women who already have an allergy to other substances belong to the risk group, because if the immune system is already broken, then another failure is quite possible. In addition, the state of the body is affected by the environmental situation, the quality of the products used, the use of certain drugs, hormonal imbalance, 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 faster it will be possible to begin diagnosis and treatment. So how does sperm allergy manifest?
As a rule, women complain of itching, swelling and a burning sensation in the vagina and external genitalia. These signs can occur both immediately after sexual intercourse, and after a few hours or even days.
With severe allergies, local symptoms are joined 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 an intimate life, which is fundamentally wrong. If you ask 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.
Naturally, to begin with, you will need to conduct a standard gynecological examination, take a swab from the vagina, and take a blood test. What for? The fact is that in about 70% of cases, itching that occurs 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 have not been confirmed, then the patient is recommended to donate blood for the detection of immunoglobulin E - a 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 exactly what substance in the semen reacts to the body. For this purpose, as a rule, various allergic skin tests are performed . Only after a full diagnosis will the doctor be able to choose a treatment.
Sperm allergy: what to do? The main methods of treatment
Unfortunately, getting rid of an allergy is not so simple - everyone who knows at least once has encountered a similar ailment knows about it. After all, "reprogramming" the immune system is extremely difficult.
So what to do if you are allergic 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 irritating substance, for example, use a condom during intercourse.
In addition, the doctor will probably recommend taking antihistamines. For example, Loratadin, Suprastin, Tavegil and some others are quite effective in this regard. In the presence of rashes and itching, you can use an antihistamine ointment, which will help eliminate discomfort. By the way, if you take a pill before the onset of sexual intercourse, then the likelihood of developing a subsequent allergic reaction is reduced.
Hyposensitization method
Today, perhaps the only way to permanently get rid of allergies is the method of so-called hyposensitization. What is its essence? An allergy patient periodically comes in contact with a small amount of 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 lengthy, 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, then isolate it and inject it in its pure form in small doses under the skin (or treat the tissue).
Allergy and infertility - is there a connection?
Today, it is widely believed that an allergy to sperm causes infertility in a couple. In fact, this statement is not entirely true. Of course, some spermatozoa die before they can fertilize an egg.
But most often, the allergy is not connected in any way with male reproductive cells - a reaction occurs on some protein (less often another substance), which is in the seminal fluid. In such conditions, fertilization is quite real.
Allergies and intolerances: what is the difference?
Allergies are often confused 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 sperm itself. 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 germ cells before ejaculation.
Fortunately, such a disorder is rarely recorded. As for the problem with infertility, doctors often recommend that such couples inject 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 carefully monitor herself.