Condoms And Allergies

Watching porn or romantic sex scenes on the big screen is mesmerizing, isn’t it? It’s tough for Hollywood producers to resist adding sensuous sex scenes to movies. For the most part, audiences enjoy the idea of beautiful people having an intimate moment – one in which everything goes perfectly smoothly. Unfortunately, big-screen sex scenes don’t always depict the realities of intercourse and thus may inculcate many misconceptions about sex. Yes! Sex can be painful at times. People do experience frequent and unexplained itching or rash after sex indicating an allergic reaction. For what it’s worth, having a latex allergy is common and can cause issues while using latex gloves, rubber bands, and balloons, but latex allergy tends to induce the most attention when it comes to using safe-sex products like condoms.

Condom Related Allergies

Allergies are a mistake that our immune system often makes. Our immune system is normally designed to fight off harmful bacteria, fungi, virus, and other pathogens, sometimes, the immune system takes offence to otherwise harmless things as well like dirt, pollen, shellfish, peanuts, and a hoard of different things - and triggers a set of reactions to fight them off. This reaction later develops into an ALLERGY the next time we encounter the offensive object. Often, the simplest treatment option is to avoid the thing you’re allergic to. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case possible for SEX. Yep, from regular condoms to semen from flavored lubricants to orals, people can be in agony because of a range of things that ought to normally provide pleasure. Like with any other allergy, some people can have minor sniffles while others can go as high as anaphylactic shock as well.

Here’s a glance at some condom related allergies:

Lube Allergy:

During sexual arousal and with a tad bit of foreplay a woman’s vagina typically becomes lubricated, making it wetter and ready for sex. Many women find that lubrication has sex more comfortable or enjoyable because it reduces friction and irritation. Lubricants can ease pain and multiply your sexual pleasure, but in people who are allergic to lubes, they can cause itchiness, rashes, a burning sensation, hives, UTI’s or even anaphylactic shock. If you often experience any of these symptoms after using a lubricant, try a different type. There are basically three types of lubes available in the market: water- based, silicone-based, and oil-based. A pro tip, try increasing the time you spend on foreplay to give the body more time to lubricate naturally. If this makes the symptoms go away, you’ll know. If you have sensitive skin, be sure to look for the lube that has the least amount of or no chemicals in it.

Spermicide:

Spermicide is a form of birth control contraceptive that prevents sperms from reaching the egg. Spermicide is available in form of gel, foam, or suppository. At times spermicide is even there on the condoms itself. People also buy these condoms coated in spermicide. The active ingredient in many spermicides is nonoxynol-9, which kills sperm cells. When a person uses it frequently, however, it can cause irritation and soreness again leading to an allergic reaction. These reactions can include redness, itchiness, burning sensation and swelling. However, if you are consistently having irritation after using a spermicide, you should avoid the use of these items until you speak to a health care provider.

Latex Allergy:

Latex condoms at times may trigger a severe reaction because of the sensitivity of vaginal mucus membranes, making it easier for latex to enter your bloodstream through mucus membranes than regular skin. If you have a latex allergy, your body might mistake latex for a harmful substance. Which will then react by trying to fight off a dangerous substance, even though there isn’t one present. Longer or more frequent exposure to latex condoms may lead to more severe symptoms.

Sex doesn’t have to be painful!

Just because painful sex is quite common, that doesn’t mean you have to accept it as “normal.” Occasional minor soreness or allergic reactions is nothing to worry about, but intense or frequent pain is worth having a conversation with your doctor. You can always consult your doctor for other alternatives which can be used to get back your sex life. Sex should be a pleasurable experience, and if it’s not, don’t hesitate to speak up to your partner and to your doctor. Stay connected for another such sexual wellness article, only on A HEALTH PLACE.