Allergic to dogs? You could also have this little known sex allergy

When it comes to sexual health and STI testing, you might think you’ve ticked every box.

But, if your genitals are feeling a little uncomfortable lately, and you’ve tested for sexually transmitted diseases, there could be a chance you’re allergic to your partner’s bodily fluids.

Yes, you read that right. You can be allergic to your partner’s semen.

While it sounds a bit crazy, this is a diagnosis Dr José Costa, top allergy doctor and senior member of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology responsible for NICE allergy guidelines, says he diagnoses in his clinic.

The condition is rare but it affects about 8% of women in the UK, although, with the condition often being mistaken for other health issues, it’s likely the numbers may be higher.

As a semen allergy, only women with male partners and, theoretically, men who have sex with men will be affected, although all Dr Costa’s patients have been female sufferers.

What is a semen allergy and why can you be allergic?

Dr Costa tells Metro.co.uk: ‘On average, I see one or two patients per year presenting with what is known as Human Seminal Plasma Hypersensitivity (HSPH).

‘It is an allergy to specific proteins in seminal fluid. These proteins can lead to an immunological reaction in the allergic person, leading to what we call histamine release and typical allergic symptoms.’

The last thing you want to happen when you’re getting intimate with your partner is to have an allergic reaction – talk about ruining the mood. But there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

Dr Costa explains the science behind why a semen allergy can occur.

‘This is an allergy to proteins present in semen – mainly a protein known as Prostate-Specific Antigen, which belongs to a group of proteins called Kallikreins,’ Dr Costa explains.

‘Interestingly the patients I diagnose with HSPH are often women who initially present with a dog fur allergy – specifically to male dogs.

‘This is because Kallikreins (the group of proteins that Prostate-Specific Antigen protein belongs to) are also very similar to a male dog protein called Prostatic Kallikrein, which is one of the key aspects of dog fur allergies.

‘Prostatic Kallikrein is found in male dog urine (usually dogs that have not been castrated), which tends to be distributed in the dog’s fur. When the owner touches the dog, they can experience a skin contact allergic reaction.’

Basically if someone has an allergy to male dogs specifically, this could mean they have an allergy to the proteins in their fur, which in turn could indicate they would also be allergic to semen – however the two aren’t always linked.

Dr Costa adds: ‘If someone is allergic to Prostate-Specific Antigen, sexual or skin contact, can lead to either a local allergic reaction (via skin contact) or a more disseminated reaction.’

The only way to confirm if you have a semen allergy is with an allergy test at a clinic.

What are the symptoms of a semen allergy?

‘Symptoms of a semen allergy commonly present as vaginal itching, varying in presentation depending on the severity of the reaction,’ says Dr Costa.

‘Due to being often misdiagnosed, it is common for the signs to be mistaken for chronic vaginitis.

‘The common symptoms are redness, swelling, burning or itching – mainly to either the vagina, anus or oral cavity.

‘More systemic symptoms are uncommon, and they can present with itching, development of hives, and, eventually, breathing difficulty, also known as anaphylaxis.’

Semen can also irritate the skin which Dr Costa says is known as ‘allergic contact dermatitis’ which can cause redness or hives.

In fact, symptoms will present in any area of the body exposed to semen, and the volume of semen will determine the length and severity of the reaction.

This all refers to its presentation in women, but ‘there’s no reason why it cannot affect homosexual men’.

Dr Costa says: ‘The symptoms would present in exactly the same way in a man. A man can also be allergic to his own semen, this is known as Post-Orgasmic Illness Syndrome (POIS).’

It goes without saying that if you experience any symptoms during or after sex, you should go to a doctor.

How to treat a semen allergy

‘It would be wise to consult with an allergist to check if the reaction was to a spermicide or latex present in condoms in the first instance,’ Dr Costa explains.

If you are allergic to semen, then using condoms would prevent the development of any symptoms.

If you’re worried about the impact of this allergy on your fertility – don’t be.

‘Having HSPH does not impact conception, so, taking antihistamines 1/2 to 1 hour before having sex can help symptoms,’ Dr Costa adds.

Taking antihistamines will control the symptoms but like other allergies, you cannot cure it. You should also seek advice from an allergist.

While studies show a semen allergy can present after a woman’s first sexual encounter in half of cases, it can develop at any appoint, according to the doctor.

If you’re concerned you have a semen allergy, don’t be afraid to raise it with your GP, because it’s often misdiagnosed.

Diagnoses tend to come later in life as a result, even if the allergy has been present for years.

Dr Costa says: ‘The women I diagnose tend to be older sexually active female teens, as well as mothers of my younger patients, seeking advice on their own symptoms.

While there is a ‘social stigma’ around ‘having an allergic reaction after having sex with [your] partner’, you still need to get your symptoms checked, and they’re nothing to be ashamed of.

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