Ask the Sexpert: Nov. 19, 2009

Dear Sexpert,

My boyfriend and I have been dating for a while now, and we decided to try sex without a condom since I’m on the pill. The only problem is that it hasn’t been very fun for me: Since we stopped using a condom, I’ve experienced intense burning and even some itchy blisters down there. We were virgins when we met, so neither of us has ever had sex with anyone else. What’s going on?

— Burning for Answers

Dear Burning for Answers,

I’m sure this isn’t the kind of “burning” that you’re looking for when it comes to desire. There are a couple of different explanations that may account for how you’re feeling, and it’s definitely a legitimate concern.

I know that you and your boyfriend are in a monogamous relationship, but it would still be wise to undergo testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some of the symptoms you mentioned — like itchiness, burning and sores — are characteristic of various STIs, such as herpes. Using condoms will protect you from some of these STIs, but simply being on the pill will not. You should definitely be tested if you’ve decided not to use condoms since it’s possible to have contracted an STI even without having had vaginal intercourse before. And even if everything turns up negative in testing, well, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

The next possible explanation is a fairly simple one: You may not be lubricated enough during sex. All women experience different amounts of natural lubrication. This is less of a concern with lubricated condoms, but now that you’ve stopped using a condom, it may have become a problem. When a woman is not lubricated enough during sex, small tears in the vagina result — and when semen enters these tears, it most certainly can burn. It’s important to make sure you are well-lubricated before sex either through foreplay or by using a gentle lubricant that won’t cause irritation. (As for lubricants, try to go for fragrance-free and water-based products.)

If lubrication isn’t the problem, a far less common explanation may be the answer: You could be allergic to your boyfriend’s semen, meaning you are reacting to proteins present in his semen. It’s known as seminal plasma protein hypersensitivity, or SPH, and it’s pretty rare. Just like with any other allergy, you would need to go see an allergist who would perform a skin test to see if you actually have the allergy. And, just like any other allergy, the severity of the reaction varies from person to person: from mild itchiness to anaphylaxis. To treat the allergy, a physician injects a solution partially made up of your partner’s semen to build up a tolerance, so to speak. The other option is to return to using condoms.

To figure out what’s going on, it’s best to make an appointment with University Health Services, where you can get the appropriate tests — and get rid of that annoying itching and burning, fast!

— The Sexpert