Semen Allergy

H. Farhadian, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.A.A.A.A.I.
Copyright© 2009, Valencia Allergy & Asthma Center. All rights reserved.

Allergic reaction to semen or seminal fluid is a rare, but an important condition that has not been known to many people. In this special condition, symptoms of allergies appear several minutes to a few hours after exposure to man’s semen due to intercourse or even by contact to the skin.

Symptoms characterized by rash include, mild to intense itching, and burning of the vagina and/or skin, sometimes associated with swelling. In the case of a severe reaction, the allergic person may develop a systemic or anaphylactic reaction. The symptoms of systemic reaction include rash and hives all over the body with severe itching, edema of the eyelids, face, and body, swelling of the throat, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, nausea, vomiting, rapid, weak pulse, and even sometimes a drop in blood pressure, coma, and shock might follow, which area dangerous.

The cause of semen allergy is not known. However, the semen acts as a foreign body antigen for allergic individuals. Those women who are allergic to semen of their husband or sexual partner will have problems with other men’s semen. Thus, changing male partners does not resolve the problem. To confirm diagnoses of semen allergy, blood test and skin test is possible, but skin test is more valuable. In this method, a blood test for syphilis viral hepatitis and HIV should be done on the donor. When results are negative, a full seminal fluid is obtained. After sterilization, a drop of the fluid is placed on the patient’s skin and the skin is scratched or pricked. The results are read fifteen minutes later.

Prevention is the best choice for the management of semen allergy. The male partner should always use a condom to prevent woman’s exposure to the semen. In case of accidental exposure, patient should have antihistamines available to take immediately after contact.

If any sign of systemic reaction develops, patient should be taken to an emergency room or paramedics should be called, if the reaction seems to be life threatening. Administration of antihistamines before sexual activity may or may not be helpful, and would be more effective if used along with prevention (use of condom). Immunotherapy or allergy shots has been used to immune the allergic individual.