That's headache: Some women are allergic to sex
Wuile a lot of women may feign headaches to avoid sex, some may just be allergic to the act, a study claims. But doctors are finding how women can overcome this allergy through regular sex, with treatments derived from semen, reports LiveScience.
"It's really a very rare condition, but it does happen," allergist and immunologist David Resnick at New York Presbyterian Hospital said. Semen allergy symptoms can include itching, burning and swelling in the genitals.
In the most severe cases, hives or swelling might appear elsewhere on the body and the woman might experience difficulty breathing.
"Typically symptoms occur within 30 minutes of intercourse, but in rare cases it may be hours or even days later," Resnick explained.
One study from the University of Cincinnati of 1,073 women who sought information on semen allergy concerning their symptoms found 130 had the allergy. In some women, the reaction occurs only with one partner while others are allergic to all partners.
Women are not in all cases allergic to semen itself, but to chemicals in the semen from food, beverages or medications the man has had, ranging from pencillin to compounds in walnuts.
However, "this is rare, even more than semen allergy, itself," Resnick said.
Resnick said about half of all women with semen allergy have other allergies as well. Most women with the allergy are between age 20 and 30, and 41% experience symptoms the first time they have sex. "In most cases, symptoms gradually worsen and occur sooner with subsequent exposures," ha said.
"It's really a very rare condition, but it does happen," allergist and immunologist David Resnick at New York Presbyterian Hospital said. Semen allergy symptoms can include itching, burning and swelling in the genitals.
In the most severe cases, hives or swelling might appear elsewhere on the body and the woman might experience difficulty breathing.
"Typically symptoms occur within 30 minutes of intercourse, but in rare cases it may be hours or even days later," Resnick explained.
One study from the University of Cincinnati of 1,073 women who sought information on semen allergy concerning their symptoms found 130 had the allergy. In some women, the reaction occurs only with one partner while others are allergic to all partners.
Women are not in all cases allergic to semen itself, but to chemicals in the semen from food, beverages or medications the man has had, ranging from pencillin to compounds in walnuts.
However, "this is rare, even more than semen allergy, itself," Resnick said.
Resnick said about half of all women with semen allergy have other allergies as well. Most women with the allergy are between age 20 and 30, and 41% experience symptoms the first time they have sex. "In most cases, symptoms gradually worsen and occur sooner with subsequent exposures," ha said.
posted by Brittany Stephen @ 12:48 AM
2 Comments:
At 3:54 PM ,
Vedova Donna said...
Very interesting site. I'll check back often.
At 7:51 PM ,
KWiz said...
Interestingly, I've looked up information on this very topic since I have had problems with this in the past myself. I got tested for this very condition; the results came up negative. Needless to say, it was (and has been) a very frustrating situation.
As I continued to do research on the topic, I discovered a condition called vulvodynia, or vulvar vestibulitis. After much testing, it appears that is the condition I came down with. I am in the process of continuing my research now (since I've discovered this blog).
If you have any questions at all about my experiences, please contact me at wisdomwalker@gmail.com. Or come to my blog at www.wisdomwalking.net. I'll be back to see if there are any other comments on this topic.
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