The New Intimacy

Sudden Latex Allergy?

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Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
I don't know much about latex allergies, but I'm wondering if it's possible to suddenly develop one? I have always used condoms with no problems. Last night my boyfriend and I were having sex, and about 10 minutes in I started getting a slight burning feeling. It was worst around the opening, but I could feel it inside my vagina as well. It got stronger over the next few minutes until it was bad enough that we had to stop. I washed myself off, hoping that might help, but it continued to burn severely for about half an hour before the pain began to lessen. It took over an hour to completely fade. Today I'm feeling a bit sore and swollen. They were just regular condoms (no warming/cooling sensations, or texture) and we have used those particular condoms many times before. We used one last week and I was totally fine. I'm confused about why this would happen, and I really don't want to use one again to see if the same thing happens.

Any advice would be appreciated!
09/20/2011
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Contributor: Elaira Elaira
Yikes! That doesn't sound like fun at all! Hmm . . .

I know that out of nowhere I developed a sensitivity to pantyliners, pads, and tampons that had fragrances in them after years of having no problem with it.

I don't know if you can boil that automatically down to a sudden latex allergy. If you'd had sex the previous day, week, etc, and this suddenly happened, it may not latex-related or have anything to do with the condoms. It is quite odd, though. Chances are, if you have a latex allergy, any place it touches your skin may break out. This goes for latex gloves, as well.

I would say to monitor it and go see a doctor if anything gets worse or doesn't stop. Vaginas are weird sometimes and like to do whatever they feel like.
09/20/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Allergies can happen suddenly. Did it effect your breathing, or did your mouth swell up or get itchy? Did you have symptoms anywhere other than your vagina?

It could be a localized skin reaction, which may or may not turn into a generalized allergy. (Which would have breathing problems, running nose, watery eyes, hives, itching, swelling, and even anaphylaxis.)

It could be a yeast infection, too. See how you feel in the coming days, if you are still sore, or you have white discharge or it burns a little when you pee, it could be yeast. If it burns a LOT when you pee, you are peeing frequently, it feels like you have to go even right after, and you feel awful, it could be a urinary tract infection, so you would need to see a doctor about that.
09/20/2011
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
Thanks for answering. I didn't notice symptoms in any other areas. I've never had a yeast infection or UTI before, and I didn't realize that they could also cause those kind of symptoms. But I'll keep an eye out for the things you mentioned.
09/20/2011
Contributor: Peggi Peggi
That's very true that allergies can happen out of no where. Two of the most common allergies to happen are latex and bee stings, and ironically if one happens suddenly the other did too, you just don't know it yet!

Even if you've been stung before or been in contact with latex, the two have a correlation (though I am not sure specifically what) that if you suddenly become allergic to one you will find (should you have the unfortunate encounter) that you are allergic to the second!

I agree with everything the all-wise-all-knowing P'Gell has to say, with one addition! Something else to keep an eye out for if you are looking for a more localized reaction would be changes in vision, hearing or smell. Sometimes sense of taste (though rare) can be affected as well. Usually this is related more to allergies to the latex paints, though.
09/20/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
I could be possible, or do the condoms have spermicide in them? I know that some people can be allergic to that aspect of condoms too.

I developed a sudden allergy to latex a few years back. I was doing the dishes, wearing dish gloves. My hands didn't start itching or breaking out immediately, but a day later my hands started itching very badly and I got terribly blisters all over. it lasted for a few weeks before it finally went away.
09/20/2011
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
I could be possible, or do the condoms have spermicide in them? I know that some people can be allergic to that aspect of condoms too.

I developed a sudden allergy to latex a few years back. I was doing the dishes, wearing dish gloves. My ... more
No, they don't have spermicide, but thanks for the suggestion. My boyfriend bought us a pack of spermicidal condoms once and I noticed that the back of the box said not for anal sex or for more than once a day vaginal sex. That seemed kind of sketchy, and we usually have sex more than once a day when we are together. We actually did use them 3 times in 1 day before I noticed that. I didn't have any reaction to it, but now that I know it can cause problems I've avoided spermicide ever since.
09/20/2011
Contributor: Alan & Michele Alan & Michele
Alan has a latex allergy and YES they often seem to develop out of the blue. How it was explained to us was that latex has a certain protein in it that your body can become bitchy about over time (I guess it builds up). Each exposure to it increases the chance of a reaction or of a more severe reaction.

If you turn out to be allergic to latex, watch out for bananas and Shea butter too since they can have cross reactivity.
09/21/2011
Contributor: LadyDarknezz LadyDarknezz
I have a severe latex allergy. The way a latex allergy works is strange: The longer you expose yourself to it, the worse the allergy becomes. For instance, I used to wear latex gloves all the time during my art projects and at my old job. My hands gradually began to swell for days at a time. Then finally, when I was getting my gallbladder removed in 2009, they used latex in and around the IV they gave me. It wasn't a pretty sight and I actually couldn't breathe.

As Alan & Michele mentioned, be weary of bananas and shea butter. In fact, be weary of just about everything since latex is seriously all around us.
09/21/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by Alan & Michele
Alan has a latex allergy and YES they often seem to develop out of the blue. How it was explained to us was that latex has a certain protein in it that your body can become bitchy about over time (I guess it builds up). Each exposure to it increases ... more
I had no idea that bananas and Shea butter could cause that, too. Hmmm...
09/22/2011
Contributor: LaLaLouise LaLaLouise
I just read that someone can suddenly develop an allergy to latex, especially after lots of exposure.
11/30/2011