Ask the Sexpert: Feb. 3, 2011

I heard someone mention a news story recently about men who are allergic to their own semen. Is this actually a thing?

— Egregious Ejaculate

Dear Egregious,

What you heard is true. Some men actually are allergic to their own semen. It’s a condition called Post Orgasmic Illness Syndrome and it has been in the news in the past few weeks because of several studies recently published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. According to coverage in Reuters, physicians had been aware of the phenomenon of men experiencing allergy and flu-like symptoms after orgasm for a number of years, but the new studies by Dutch researchers actually confirm that this response is a result of these men having an intolerance to their own semen. It appears that POIS is a rare condition, but it is also a real one.

Sex related allergies can be a pernicious problem, and men who are allergic to their own semen are not the only ones who sometimes react badly to ejaculate. People can also have allergies to their partner’s semen, experiencing hives where semen has come into contact with their skin andswelling and general discomfort if they are exposed internally. This is known as Seminal Plasma Hypersensitivity, a condition I wrote about on Nov. 19, 2009.

Perhaps more relevant in this age of nut allergies is the fact that certain foodborne proteins can be passed from a nonallergic person to their allergic sex partner. Doctors in Surrey, England, studied the case of a woman who experienced a severe allergic reaction after intercourse with her boyfriend. The boyfriend had eaten Brazil nuts in the hours before they had sex, a food to which the woman was allergic. The authors of the study note that the boyfriend, being aware of his partner’s allergy, had taken all the obvious precautions — he had “bathed, brushed his teeth and cleaned his nails” — but hadn’t thought that his semen might contain traces of the allergen. When they had vaginal sex without a condom he exposed her to Brazil nut proteins.

It’s also worth remembering that latex allergies can cause great discomfort for those who have them, and symptoms of the allergy don’t always manifest in quite the way you might expect. People with latex allergies often experience redness, hives and itching, but chafing and severe dryness can also indicate a reaction. For people who have a latex sensitivity there are condoms made from lamb intestine which protect against pregnancy but not sexually transmitted infections, as well as condoms made from polyurethane which protect against both. If you think you might have any kind of allergy it is very important to make an appointment at University Health Services as soon as possible. The same is true if you’re experiencing any redness, pain, or swelling, as these might also indicate an STI.

— The Sexpert

The Sexpert is written by a team of peer sexual health educators and fact-checked by University health professionals. You can submit questions to sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com. Don’t be shy!