Allergist and Immunologist | Allergy Questions Allergist-Immunologist

Can you be allergic to semen?

I’ve been sexually active for a decade and I’ve never had an allergic reaction to semen before. I just started seeing a new partner and immediately after got rashes.

I’m inclined to believe I am not allergic to semen in general but that there is an odd reaction occurring with his in particular? I’m not allergic to any foods or medications he might have consumed, so I’m pretty confused. I cannot find any information about this sort of occurrence online.

Female

2 Answers

A semen allergy — otherwise known as human seminal plasma hypersensitivity (HSP) — is an allergic reaction to the proteins. How do you know if you are allergic to your partner's sperm? Signs of a semen allergy can include: Redness, burning, itching or swelling on any part of the body or skin that has come into contact with semen. Hives all over the body, including parts of the skin that haven't come into contact with semen. Trouble breathing.
The first question you need an answer to is could there be a sexually transmitted infection going on? Could your new partner be diabetic? Diabetic males can have a retrograde ejaculation with semen backflowing into the bladder; that mixes with the excess sugar in the urine and can cause a low grade irritation on penile skin which can transfer to your vagina, causing irritation and a low grade yeast infection in the female partner. I always ask my patients to have a new sexual partner get ‘checked out’ medically by a physical and STD cultures/bloodwork to be certain you know what you are getting exposure to. Unfortunately, women tend to carry the brunt of any STD exchange so being forewarned is being forearmed. And if the relationship is not monogamous, and if a 3rd party may be involved, then you really have much less control than you think. Don’t hesitate to ask a new partner to get checked; after all, it’s your health.