Jul 12, 2025 23:00:00

Experts explain that 'semen allergy' is more common than you think, and men may develop it

Some people have a '

semen allergy ' that causes symptoms such as itching, stinging, swelling, and sometimes difficulty breathing in response to semen. Michael Carroll , an associate professor of reproductive science at Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, explained what a semen allergy is.

Semen allergies may be surprisingly common – here's what you need to know
https://theconversation.com/semen-allergies-may-be-surprisingly-common-heres-what-you-need-to-know-259308

Semen allergy was first documented in 1967 and is classified as a type I allergy, the same category as hay fever and peanut allergies. It is not sperm cells that cause the allergic reaction, but the liquid part called seminal plasma, which is made up of secretions from the prostate gland and seminal vesicles.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe; some people experience a localized reaction such as burning, itching, redness, and swelling of the vulva or vagina, while others may experience systemic symptoms such as hives, wheezing, dizziness, runny nose, and anaphylactic shock .

Semen allergy has long been thought to be an extremely rare condition, with fewer than 100 people thought to have it worldwide until 1997. But a 1997 study led by allergist Jonathan Bernstein found that about 12 percent of women who reported symptoms consistent with a semen allergy after sex were suspected of having a semen allergy.

Semen allergy is not widely reported, and it is likely to be misdiagnosed as a sexually transmitted disease. A 2024 study backed up these results, suggesting that semen allergy may be more common than people think. One of the characteristics that distinguishes semen allergy from other hypersensitivity conditions is that the symptoms do not appear when a condom is used.

According to Carroll, semen allergies have

a cross-reactivity to other substances, just like hay fever and food allergies. Carroll points out that the protein in dog dander is called 'Can f 5,' and that women who have dog allergies may also have an allergic reaction to semen.

Diagnosis of semen allergy begins with a detailed sexual and medical history, and is often accomplished using skin prick tests using your partner's semen and blood tests for seminal plasma-specific antibodies.

It is not just women who have semen allergies, some men also have allergic reactions to their own semen. Some men suffer from post-orgasm disorder , which is characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, muscle pain, and impaired concentration and memory after ejaculation, and it has been pointed out that the cause of this may be semen allergy.

Having a semen allergy does not necessarily mean you will be infertile, but as symptoms occur during sex, it may be difficult to conceive. Treatment options include taking preventative antihistamines to reduce the allergic reaction, taking anti-inflammatory drugs, and desensitization therapy using diluted seminal plasma. In severe cases, IVF using washed sperm cells can be used to induce fertilization.

Carol said, 'Sexual symptoms are often left unspoken. Many women continue to suffer in silence due to embarrassment, stigma and lack of awareness among doctors. Bernstein's 1997 study revealed that nearly half of women who reported symptoms after sex had never been tested for semen allergy, and many were misdiagnosed and not properly treated for years. If you frequently experience itching, pain or discomfort after sex and condoms are effective in preventing the symptoms, you may have a semen allergy.'