So, I'm going to go all TMI on you, but need help (long)....

toyah81 · April 2010

Someone on my birth month board posted about contraceptives after our LO's get here. I don't plan on having any more children, but I'm not dead set against it. DH and I will be making our decision very soon, either tubes tied, Mirena or vasectomy for him.

My problem is this. I am extremely sensitive when it comes to intercourse with DH. Eventhough I was on BCP our entire intimate relationship, we still used condoms (had to be lambskin or latex-free) Of course to get pregnant, we stopped using them, but even now I am thinking about asking him to wrap it up again. It is extremely painful for me all over again (swollen, so bad that I can't sit for a good while or have to pop a pain reliever to go back to sleep - no itching or funny discharge though). It's definitely his semen though, wherever it is, I either swell or breakout if I don't remove it quickly. We test every year for STD's, I have always been up to date on my yearly exams, so I'm not sure what else to do. I mentioned this one time to my gynecologist and her only solution was to use condoms except when we want to conceive.

Well this blows and I don't know anyone else who has had this issue and lived with it with their own husband forever. Has anyone else been through this or have any alternatives they have heard of?

lisaohgee · April 2010

It sounds like you are allergic to his semen. I don't think there's much you can do about that. I am sorry.

yodasmistress · April 2010

lisaohgee:
It sounds like you are allergic to his semen. I don't think there's much you can do about that. I am sorry.

TheSkimmy · April 2010

There was an episode on Private Practice where the lady was allergic to her husband's sperm. I don't remember what was done for it. (I assume they got that story from somewhere)

DaniLovesPink · April 2010

I have heard of this and there are things that can be done to remove the protein from the semen that you're allergic to (but probably very expensive).

Come to think of it, this was on an episode of Private Practice several weeks ago...

w2smd · April 2010

I want to say this was a topic on "The Doctors".. I'm sorry to hear you have that issue, that would be a difficult one to live with but it sounds like you know how to manage it (with condoms). Did your OB come up with any other solutions?

SpartanChick88 · April 2010

I have no recommendations, but this exact issue was on an episode of Private Practice a couple months ago. The only reason I point that out is because I know that they use real medical cases when they write their scripts. It does sound like an allergy. Maybe do some research of your own and take your findings back to your OB... or find an allergist? Good luck to you.

shellyxo · April 2010

I google it and I found this article

https://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2009/11/05/2009-11-05_allergic_to_sperm_its_more_common_for_women_than_you_might_imagine.html

In the article, it says their is treatments. So you might want to ask your doctor about it.

skyejo · April 2010

I don't have any personal experience with this, but could you doc refer you to a specialist? Maybe an allergist? I would hope that there would be a remedy for you. Sorry you're going through this

missthick · April 2010

If it is an allergic reaction as pp said, is it possible to see an allergist that has dealt with this type of allergy before? This is a man your going to be with for the rest of your life, and the money it would cost to see the specialist and do treatments is probably well worth it.

Luv2Run1st · April 2010

definitely something you should discuss with your doctor...and I'm assuming you have had regular and normal paps? Sometimes, there are conditions of sensitivity with the soft tissue such as vulvar vestibulitis that can be treated with physical therapy....not just any physical therapy, but a women's health physical therapist.

SuperThat1006 · April 2010

Getting a vasectomy will obviously remove sperm from the semen ... is it possible the protein that you are allergic to would also be removed if he had a vasectomy? Is there a way to test exactly what it is you are allergic to with his semen?

Would be worth a try if a vasectomy would help.

toyah81 · April 2010

Yeah, so I've thought about maybe going to an allergist to see if they can help. I think I read somewhere (once) years ago where they could somehow inject me with something to make me "immune" to him, but I didn't know if it was just a theory, study or what. Doesn't seem like this is common at all, so I just lived with the condom thing.

It's not to the point where it is affecting how often we get intimate yet, but DH always feels so bad that he's causing me pain during a supposed to be very intimate and loving act. I think I'm willing to try alternatives down the road no matter what the cost....

shellyxo · April 2010

toyah81:

Yeah, so I've thought about maybe going to an allergist to see if they can help. I think I read somewhere (once) years ago where they could somehow inject me with something to make me "immune" to him, but I didn't know if it was just a theory, study or what. Doesn't seem like this is common at all, so I just lived with the condom thing.

It's not to the point where it is affecting how often we get intimate yet, but DH always feels so bad that he's causing me pain during a supposed to be very intimate and loving act. I think I'm willing to try alternatives down the road no matter what the cost....

You should read the article I posted.. it talked about the injections you could take.

According to the article

"between 20,000 and 40,000 women in the United States suffer allergic reactions to their spouse's seminal fluid"

SparkleK · April 2010

I read a while back about women being allergic to their husband's sperm and how they are normally unable to conceive.

I would definitely ask your Dr. about the possibility. Otherwise, does your DH mind condoms? At least they make for easy cleanup! What about not finishing in you?

jpowell3 · April 2010

From other people's responses it seems like you could be allergic to his sperm, I however have had similar symptoms to yours but not as severe. I am allergic to latex. Using latex condoms will cause swelling & pain for me. I' not sure if that helps you at all, I'm pretty sure lambskin is latex free, but this gives you something else to look into.

toyah81 · April 2010

shellyxo:
toyah81:

Yeah, so I've thought about maybe going to an allergist to see if they can help. I think I read somewhere (once) years ago where they could somehow inject me with something to make me "immune" to him, but I didn't know if it was just a theory, study or what. Doesn't seem like this is common at all, so I just lived with the condom thing.

It's not to the point where it is affecting how often we get intimate yet, but DH always feels so bad that he's causing me pain during a supposed to be very intimate and loving act. I think I'm willing to try alternatives down the road no matter what the cost....

You should read the article I posted.. it talked about the injections you could take.

According to the article

"between 20,000 and 40,000 women in the United States suffer allergic reactions to their spouse's seminal fluid"

Sorry, I read it just now. Yes, that is exactly what I read a few years ago. The article says it didn't work for that couple, but I'm still willing to try. After Mikylah gets here and we are back to the intimacy stage, I guess I will see how it goes and then if there's no change - seek this sort of help from an allergist.

Thanks everyone for your help! I feel slighlty better and less "strange"

ausx · April 2010

I actually saw something about this on TV. They do have allergy treatment for semen allergies. On the show that I the woman's husband provided a semen sample and they broke down the proteins in his semen and then they did an allergy test (they gave her a series of a zillion shots). They were able to determine exactly what is was that she was allergic to and treat her for it with allergy shots. In the end she was able to have sex and come in contact with his semen without having a reaction. Anyway, I am not sure if this would work for you, and it might be very hard to find an allergist that does this kind of allergy treatment, but it might be worth looking into. GL.

toyah81 · April 2010

Brezza:

So is it pain during intercourse or afterwards? Or both? Because if it's during then it's before the semen has fully produced so it could be an allergy to his semen AND something else, like dyspareunia. Also, if you had intercourse with any other men before your husband, did you experience the same symptoms?

I would definitely get a second opinion. Your doctor should truly explore the etiology of your pain to find a treatment, not just dismiss you like that.

P.S. I understand if you don't feel comfortable answering some of my questions. You could PM me or maybe just consider them when asking your doctor (or another doctor). Good luck!

I don't mind answering your questions at all, I knew it would be TMI!

But no, the pain only comes after intercourse. I only had protected sex with other men except for my first daughter's father (obviously No issues with him at all.

And I no longer go to that particular gyno anymore - not just because of that but because her office was too "busy". I haven't mentioned this to any other doctor since then because I truly thought I just had to settle for the latex-fres condoms. I'm sensitive to anything latex as well - gloves, even the rubberbands on my braces as a teen made my tongue swell! I can't use regular bath soap either - must be sensitive skin or baby products. Yep, I've got issues....

ColieJ · April 2010

I used to be allergic to my exes sperm. We still didn't use condoms every once in awhile my doc woul have me use that cream to clear it up. Discuss getting his sperm actually tested to confirm the reaction! Sorry DDB!

ninamlloyd · April 2010

If you do the IUD, be very careful and have it checked. Mine moved, bent, and then punctured a hole in my uterus, very painful and then it got infected.

JuneNC2008 · April 2010

toyah81:
Someone on my birth month board posted about contraceptives after our LO's get here. I don't plan on having any more children, but I'm not dead set against it. DH and I will be making our decision very soon, either tubes tied, Mirena or vasectomy for him.

My problem is this. I am extremely sensitive when it comes to intercourse with DH. Eventhough I was on BCP our entire intimate relationship, we still used condoms (had to be lambskin or latex-free) Of course to get pregnant, we stopped using them, but even now I am thinking about asking him to wrap it up again. It is extremely painful for me all over again (swollen, so bad that I can't sit for a good while or have to pop a pain reliever to go back to sleep - no itching or funny discharge though). It's definitely his semen though, wherever it is, I either swell or breakout if I don't remove it quickly. We test every year for STD's, I have always been up to date on my yearly exams, so I'm not sure what else to do. I mentioned this one time to my gynecologist and her only solution was to use condoms except when we want to conceive.

Well this blows and I don't know anyone else who has had this issue and lived with it with their own husband forever. Has anyone else been through this or have any alternatives they have heard of?

Like, others have said you are most likely allergic to his semen. There was a show about this on the Discovery Channel a couple months ago. I remember the lady getting allergy shots to build up immunity. Maybe you could try an allergy doctor?

Want a personalized experience?

So, I'm going to go all TMI on you, but need help (long)....

Re: So, I'm going to go all TMI on you, but need help (long)....

Choose Another Board

Search Boards