Semen Allergy - An Intimate Allergy Leading To Female Infertility
According to studies, some of the strangest allergic reactions include allergens to food, water (aquagenic
urticaria), cold weather (cold urticaria), heat (heat urticaria) and sex. You read that correctly: sex that three-letter word meant to evoke happiness and pleasure can lead to an allergic reaction. Okay, people cannot be allergic to the act of sex, but they can experience an allergic reaction to seminal fluid in an event known as human seminal plasma hypersensitivity.
When compared to itchy eyes, sneezing, rashes and nasal congestion, traditional allergic reactions seem like the better trade off than an allergic reaction to sperm.
But according to the University of Cincinnati, 20,000 to 40,000 people suffer from an allergic reaction to semen. And the allergic reaction is not restricted to just women; nope, men too can experience symptoms of human seminal plasma hypersensitivity.
Facts About Sperm and Human Seminal Plasma Hypersensitivity
- The average ejaculation contains 2 to 5 milliliters worth of semen, and every ejaculation produces between 40 million and 600 million sperm cells.
- The alkaline liquid from an ejaculation balances the acidic nature of a vagina.
- Men and women can experience Human Seminal Plasma Hypersensitivity; however, men are less likely to experience allergic reactions than women.
- Men and women are not allergic to the sperm. They are allergic to the proteins inside of sperm that cause the burning and itchy sensation after sex.
Symptoms of Human Seminal Plasma Hypersensitivity
While rare, symptoms of human seminal plasma hypersensitivity do occur, and women and men will notice one or more symptoms within the first 20 to 30 minutes of exposure to semen. For some, the symptoms can last a few days while for others a few hours. Whether the symptoms last a few days or a few hours, you can experience the following:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Itching
- Burning
Treating Semen Allergies
According to reports, the best way to allay allergic reactions is to avoid contact with semen. Of course, couples attempting to conceive can see a problem—a big one. According to some studies, women who expose themselves to tiny amounts of semen while increasing the exposure rate can minimize their allergic reaction. However, for women who wish to get pregnant but experience severe allergic reactions, artificial insemination may fill the necessary void. Treating a semen allergic reaction can require the following:
- Using condoms to avoid the sting or itchiness
- Signing up for artificial insemination