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The Mythical Sperm Allergy is no Myth |
 "I think that kid is allergic to work."
Jokes using allergies to poke fun at a subject are pretty common. So when you would want to use allergies in some slightly blue humor, perhaps the sperm allergy would be part of the fun. But there is often truth that underlies the mythical or humorous way to talk about the subject of allergies. It is possible to have an allergy that only occurs at work. Occupational allergies are common because when there are specific chemicals that set off allergy symptoms, you can literally be allergic to work or rather, to being at work. Similarly, the mythical sperm allergy is no myth. While rare, it is possible to have an allergic reaction to semen.
An allergy by definition is something different from a dislike or an aversion to something. In fact, you can have an allergy to something you like very much and that is in most cases quite beneficial. Obvious examples are allergies to milk, nuts or even to your cute household cat. Similarly, in terms of bringing a wonderful new baby into the world, a sperm allergy would fit that definition because male reproductive matter is important to creating that sweet and cuddly baby.
Before you decide you have a sperm allergy, be aware of the statistics. The sperm allergy is somewhat rare as allergies go. Among couples who are trying to conceive, verified cases of sperm allergy are below 2%. When you take into consideration the very important goal that many young couples have to start a family, if a sperm allergy becomes a factor in that goal, that makes this particular allergy problem more than just an issue having to do with romance and love making. It is an issue of the future of a family, which is serious business.
It is the proteins that are part of the make up of sperm that are at the heart of a sperm allergy. When the immune system reacts to those proteins, that can generate an allergic reaction to your own or someone else's sperm. Generally, the symptoms of a sperm allergy include swelling burning and redness in the affected are where the skin contacts semen.
For women, it is hard to pinpoint a sperm allergy because symptoms of this allergy problem are easily confused with the symptoms of a yeast infection or some other bacterial problem in the reproductive organs. That is why whenever a woman experiences discomfort or unexplained rash-like symptoms in that part of the body, that is sufficient reason to get a medical opinion. Your gynecologist will be able to determine if the troublesome symptoms you have are coming from a sperm allergy or some other cause.
While the symptoms of a sperm allergy are not dangerous, they can become a problem for a couple who wish to enjoy an active sex life in their marriage. If you are not trying to conceive, the use of condoms is an easy and inexpensive way to deal with sperm allergy reactions that you may experience. However, for a couple hoping to conceive a child, a sperm allergy could complicate that process. At very least, the discomfort associated with a sperm allergy could make the process unpleasant and reduce frequency which in term reduces your chances of conceiving.
A sperm allergy can complicate a couples goals for having a baby in a more serious way as well. An allergy happens when the immune system attacks the allergen chemically because the immune system mistakes the allergen for something dangerous. If a woman is allergic to sperm, her immune system could generate histamines to attack sperm internally, which would seriously damage the chances of pregnancy from a natural conception point of view.
If a future mom is diagnosed with a sperm allergy, her doctor can help suggest ways to continue the efforts to get pregnancy by "curing" the allergy. He or she may know of some natural remedies that have helped some couples reduce the impact of a sperm allergy on their hopes of having a child. But if natural remedies don't work, there are desensitization procedures that can be done to "train" the immune system to no longer see human sperm as an allergen and in doing so, allow the process of insemination to occur naturally.
Allergy sensitization is a lengthy, somewhat uncomfortable and costly procedure. But the last resort for getting pregnant if a sperm allergy is getting in the way is artificial insemination. In light of the complications that are involved with artificial insemination, it could be that allergy desensitization will become a more attractive alternative to give a family hope for overcoming a sperm allergy and finally give birth to a new baby.
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