Sperm allergy, also known as semen allergy or seminal plasma hypersensitivity, is a rare allergic reaction that arises as a response from the immune system to proteins present in a man’s semen, resulting in symptoms such as pain, burning, redness, itching or swelling. , in the region of the skin that was in contact with the fluid, and generally begins 10 to 30 minutes after contact with the semen.
This type of allergy is more common in women, but can also occur in men, being known as post-orgasmic illness syndrome, and although it does not cause symptoms in the male genital organ, it can cause weakness, sneezing, a feeling of a runny or blocked nose, or difficulty thinking, which begins seconds after ejaculation and can last up to a week.
Although allergy to male semen does not cause infertility, it can make the process of getting pregnant difficult, especially due to the discomfort caused by the problem. Therefore, when an allergy is suspected, it is advisable to consult a doctor to begin treatment, with the aim of relieving symptoms.
Sperm allergy symptoms
The main symptoms of semen allergy in women are:
- Pain in the region that had contact with the semen;
- Burning or stinging sensation in the area;
- Redness of the skin or mucous membrane;
- Intense itching sensation;
- Swelling of the region.
Symptoms appear in the area that was in direct contact with the semen, and generally begin between 10 and 30 minutes after contact with the sperm, and generally last about 24 hours, but can also last several days.
In some women, symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may also appear, such as red spots on the skin, a lump in the throat, cough, runny nose, increased heart rate, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, difficulty breathing, or even loss of consciousness. conscience. In these cases, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Although it is rarer, this type of allergy can also occur in men, who may be allergic to their own semen. In these cases, flu-like symptoms may appear, such as fever, sneezing, runny nose and tiredness, as well as difficulty thinking, memory loss or muscle pain, which begin a few seconds after ejaculation and can last up to a week.
Online symptom test
To find out if you have an allergy, please select the symptoms you are experiencing:
This test is a tool that serves as a means of guidance only. Therefore, it is not intended to provide a diagnosis and does not replace consultation with an allergist, immunologist or general practitioner.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of semen allergy is made by a gynecologist, in the case of women, or a urologist, in the case of men, through the evaluation of symptoms, health history, allergies, food intake or medication use by the partner, and initiation of symptoms.
In the case of women, the doctor must also perform a gynecological examination to evaluate the genital region, and an allergy test may also be requested, as there are other conditions that cause the same type of symptoms, such as candidiasis or vaginitis, for example.
One way to help identify whether semen is the cause of the symptoms is to assess whether they continue to appear even when using a condom during intimate contact, as, if there is no direct contact with semen, they may be a sign of another problem.
Possible causes
Although the specific cause of sperm allergy is not known, it is possible that the risk is greater in people who already have some type of allergy, such as allergic rhinitis or asthma, for example.
Additionally, other factors that appear to increase this risk include:
- Going a long time without having relationships;
- Being in menopause;
- Use a copper or hormonal IUD;
- Having removed the uterus;
- History of allergies, such as atopic dermatitis or asthma.
Additionally, semen from men who have had part or all of their prostate removed also appears to cause the greatest number of allergic reactions.
Allergic reactions to semen can also occur in women who are allergic to certain types of medications, such as penicillins or vinblastine, or foods, such as nuts, for example, which may be present in the semen liquid, if ingested or used by men, just before intimate contact.
How the treatment is carried out
The first recommended form of treatment to alleviate the symptoms of semen allergy is to use a condom during intercourse, in order to try to avoid coming into direct contact with semen, thus preventing the development of the allergy. See how to put on a condom correctly.
However, this form of treatment may not work for those trying to get pregnant or for men who are allergic to their own semen and, therefore, the doctor may recommend the use of anti-allergens.
In more serious cases, where the allergy can cause difficulty breathing, the doctor may even prescribe an injection of epinephrine, to be used in emergency cases.
Another form of treatment is to decrease sensitivity to semen over time, called desensitization. To do this, the doctor takes a sample of the partner’s semen and dilutes it, inserting small samples into the woman’s vagina, every 20 minutes, until the sperm concentration is reached.
In these cases, it is expected that the immune system will stop responding in such an exaggerated way. During desensitization treatment, your doctor may also advise having sex every 48 hours.
