What is a Sperm Allergy? My Infertility Friend

What is a sperm allergy? Does a sperm allergy affect my chances of getting pregnant? The term sperm allergy has been used so casually that many woman often wonder themselves if they have a sperm allergy. However, sperm allergies are quite rare and only an estimated 2 percent of fertile couples experience some sort of sperm allergy.

A sperm allergy can be defined by someone having an allergic reaction to proteins in either their own or their partner's semen which signals an immune response or allergy. Signs of a sperm allergy include redness, burning, and/or swelling in the area that was in contact with the semen. For many women with a sperm allergy, it usually causes the most discomfort on the outer genital area. A sperm allergy can be hard to self-diagnose because the female reproductive system can be complicated. A woman may suspect a sperm allergy when it could just be a yeast infection or bacterial infection since both may warrant very similar symptoms. If you are experiencing pain after coming into contact with semen, it would be wise to seek medical attention because it could be a sperm allergy or it could also be due to another type of infection.

From a fertility standpoint, yes, a sperm allergy can somewhat affect fertility. Since a sperm allergy usually signals an immune response, white blood cells are dispersed which may attack the sperm and demobilize them so they are not able to successfully reach the female egg. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to overcome a sperm allergy. Some remedies use natural methods and others require medical intervention. Some popular medical interventions include Protein Desensitization, Semen Desensitization, and Artificial Insemination.

Protein Desensitization – This procedure includes injecting semen proteins into the patient's blood. This process can be time consuming because small doses of the protein from the male’s semen are injected into the blood once every 10-15 minutes for several hours. In order for this treatment to be effective, the patient must be exposed to her partner’s semen at least two times per week.

Semen Desensitization – This procedure is similar to protein desensitization, except semen is injected into the vagina. This procedure is done in a doctor’s office and semen must be injected into the vagina every 15 – 20 minutes for several hours. Also, in order for this treatment to work the patient must be exposed to her partner’s semen at least two times per week.

Artificial Insemination – The male sperm is collected and put through process to remove the proteins causing the female allergy. During this process, a doctor closely monitors the female patient’s reproductive cycle for ovulation. Once ovulation is evident, the doctor will use a thin tube to insert the semen into the uterus.

Women who have been diagnosed with sperm allergies often just use condoms as a barrier and don’t have to worry about the allergy. However, if you are trying to conceive, a sperm allergy may make the process a little uncomfortable but it should not stop you from achieving pregnancy. Medical interventions can be expensive, and some people may choose to seek natural remedies to counteract the allergy. Nonetheless, the decision is yours based upon your own personal preferences.

Check my blog for more infertility posts on how to get pregnant and how I used pregnancy miracle to help me finally conceive my first child , As always, I am not a doctor - I am just a very educated infertility friend.

April Anderson http://www.myinfertilityfriend.com