That safe sex is above all else,today even a schoolchild knows. And the most common means of protection was and remains a condom. And this is quite natural - a condom effectively protects against both unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. And the use of condoms does not have any negative effect on the health of either men or women. Although ... In very rare cases, such an annoying phenomenon as an allergy to condoms occurs. Yes, yes, this is a real medical problem, and not an ordinary excuse, as many people believe. However, fortunately, this type of allergy is not so common - about 5% of adults who are sexually active. Symptoms of such an allergy, treatment, preventive measures - this is what will be discussed in this article.
Causes of allergy development
Doctors know very well what an allergy is.OK. But why it develops in one person, but bypasses another is still a big mystery. And an allergic reaction to condoms is no exception. However, doctors still distinguish two risk groups, which include people who are most likely to develop an allergic reaction to condoms.
- Genetic predisposition
Of course, you shouldn't rush to your parents withthe question of whether they had an allergy to condoms is a very delicate topic. However, even an allergy to strawberries in your relatives may indicate that you have inherited, if not an allergy to certain substances, then certainly a predisposition to it. This means that it is possible that in your case, the first allergic reaction may occur precisely to a condom.
- Already existing allergy
Well, and only if you know firsthandIf you know about allergies to dust, dogs or chocolate, you shouldn't be too surprised if condoms are added to the list of allergens. Incidentally, in more than 70% of all cases of allergic reactions to condoms, people previously suffered from allergies to other substances.
Symptoms of allergic reaction
There is no allergic reaction to condomsIt is very difficult to notice, but remember that the symptoms can be very different. And which ones will arise in a particular case depends only on the individual characteristics of the body. So, you should pay attention to such phenomena as:
- Discomfort in the genital area
In most cases, condom allergies occurfirst of all, it makes itself known by itching and burning in the genital area. In addition, if the allergic reaction is very strong, redness and even swelling of the genitals cannot be ruled out. This is especially often observed in women.
- Skin rashes
There are frequent cases when an allergic reaction tothe condom makes itself known by skin rashes – in other words, hives. The degree of severity can vary greatly – it all depends on the severity of the allergic reaction.
- Coryza and lacrimation
Nasal congestion or, on the contrary, severedischarge, redness and itching of the eyes, watery eyes – this is how the body can also let you know that it is allergic to condoms. In most cases, these symptoms are also accompanied by skin rashes.
- Problems with the lungs
In particularly severe cases, allergies can indicateproblems with the lungs - in particular, coughing, wheezing in the lungs or even worse - difficulty breathing. In this case, you should not hesitate under any circumstances - seek medical help as soon as possible. Fortunately, this happens extremely rarely - in about 1% of all cases. Please note - symptoms of an allergy to condoms very rarely appear after the first use. As a rule, an allergic reaction makes itself known after the second or third use of a condom, a few hours after sexual intercourse - the body needs some time.
What to do?
If you suspect you may be facingallergy to a condom, go to the doctor immediately. This should be done for at least the following two reasons. Firstly, if itching, burning and swelling of the genitals appear, it is extremely important to make sure that this is not some kind of sexually transmitted disease. Unfortunately, absolutely no one is immune from it. Secondly, if this is indeed an allergic reaction, it is necessary to understand what substances provoke it. Today, it is very easy to do a blood test to determine allergens - it does not require much time or a lot of money. And it is simply necessary to do it in order to understand how to proceed. Did you know that all condoms without exception are made of latex? And latex, in turn, is made from the juice of the Brazilian hevea tree. And it is the latex proteins that in the overwhelming majority of cases provoke the development of an allergic reaction to condoms. However, this is not always the case – in some situations, an allergic reaction develops not to latex, but to other components – for example, to aromatic substances or lubricants. Depending on the results of the allergy test, there are two options for solving this delicate problem:
- Allergy to components
If you are lucky and have an allergic reactionor your partner is not latex, just try changing the brand of condoms - as a rule, this is enough to forget about the problem. But remember - you should give preference to condoms without flavors and only with water-based lubricant. Carefully study the information on the condom packaging.
- Allergy to latex
But for those people who are allergic to latex,are much less fortunate – they need to completely abandon the use of condoms. Of course, you can try to find polyurethane condoms on sale, but, firstly, this is something from the realm of fantasy. And secondly, such condoms have a much worse degree of protection. Therefore, the most reasonable thing would be to consult a doctor who will select the optimal contraception scheme for you. And, of course, forget about casual sex – health is much more important.
