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Major Warning Sign You Are Allergic To S**
There are some major warning signs that you may be allergic to s** with your partner.
While mild irritation after intimacy is often dismissed as normal, experts warn that in some cases, these symptoms could indicate a lesser-known but surprisingly common condition.
S**inal plasma hypersensitivity (SPH) is also referred to as a s**en allergy.
Though considered rare, SPH may actually be underdiagnosed.
Dr. Michael Carroll, an associate professor in reproductive science at Manchester Metropolitan University, clarifies that this condition isn’t triggered by s***m themselves but by the fluid that surrounds them.
First documented in 1967, when a woman was hospitalized after a ‘violent allergic reaction’ to s**, SPH is now recognized as a type 1 hypersensitivity, the same category as hay fever, peanut allergy, and cat dander,’ Carroll wrote in The Conversation.
The symptoms can vary widely. For some women, they include localized discomfort, itching, burning, swelling, or redness of the g**ital area.
Others may suffer more serious systemic reactions like hives, difficulty breathing, or even anaphylaxis. These effects typically occur shortly after contact with s**en.
In the past, SPH was thought to be extremely rare.
Carroll noted that ‘until 1977, SPH was thought to affect fewer than 100 women globally.’
However, more recent research tells a different story.
A study led by allergist Dr. Jonathan Bernstein found that among women who reported symptoms after s**, nearly 12% could be classified as likely SPH cases.
Carroll’s own unpublished 2013 survey yielded a similar percentage, suggesting the condition might be more prevalent than previously believed.
One important clue is that symptoms often disappear when c**doms are used.
Unfortunately, SPH can be easily mistaken for other conditions like yeast infections, s**ually transmitted infections, or simple irritation, leading to misdiagnosis or dismissal.
The primary allergen involved is prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate.
Interestingly, PSA shares structural similarities with proteins found in other allergens like dog dander, meaning some women who are allergic to dogs might also react to s**en.
Men aren’t entirely exempt either.
Carroll referenced a rare condition called post-org**mic illness syndrome (POIS), in which men experience flu-like symptoms after ej***lation.
A case published in the American Journal of Case Reports described a man who suffered from sneezing, fatigue, and muscle pain following org**m.
SPH doesn’t directly cause infertility, but it can complicate attempts to conceive.
Carroll points out that avoiding exposure, standard practice for most allergies, isn’t a practical solution for couples trying to get pregnant.
Treatment options include taking antihistamines before intercourse, using anti-inflammatory medications, or undergoing desensitisation therapy using diluted seminal plasma.
In more severe cases, couples may turn to IVF using ‘washed’ s**em, which removes the allergenic proteins.
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