Allergy to Husband's Sperm Was 'Game-Changer' in Marriage

[Paul E Ester]

Newlyweds Jeff and Clara, both 35-year-old professionals, fell in love quickly and were convinced they were the "right match" -- until they had sex.

"I had this bizarre reaction," said Clara, who for privacy reasons did not want to use her real name. "I had burning and swelling and redness, which was very unusual. I thought I had contracted an STD [sexually transmitted disease]."

Horrified, she made an appointment with the gynecologist for testing and was nervous about having a "tricky conversation" with Jeff.

After several doctors' visits and hours of research online, the North Carolina couple finally got some answers, but it derailed their sex life and shook their marriage.

Clara had seminal plasma hypersensitivity, an allergic reaction to the proteins in Jeff's semen. Even using a condom didn't help, so the couple avoided intimacy.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/allergy-sperm-game-changer-marriage/story?id=18916973#.UWWUDL-nC7e

[Sheldon Cooper]

1. Well, that's terrible.

Sounds like the desensitizing may help resolve the problem.

[immoderate]

2. I'm glad they apparently found a solution.

I'm happy for them!

--imm

[KittyWampus]

3. interesting. Had no idea it was possible.

[DreamGypsy]

4. The history of seminal plasma hypersensitivity...

...from Seminal Plasma Allergy:

The human body has many built-in mechanisms for resisting the ill effects caused by foreign organisms and agents. Of major importance is the production of antibodies by the human lymphoid system. Ordinarily, these antibodies serve a protective function against invaders. Antibodies were first discovered in the last part of the nineteenth century. At that time, it was thought that individuals could not produce antibodies against their own tissues or for that matter against the tissues of other individuals. Thus, it was thought that antibodies could only be produced against non-human foreign substances, chiefly protein in nature. As knowledge in this field progressed, it became apparent that antibodies could be produced against one’s own tissues under unusual disease conditions. These antibodies were known as auto (self)-antibodies.

Later it was discovered that antibodies could be produced against tissues of other individuals. For example, antibodies to human skin fragments were detected in certain individuals.

Twenty years ago, the first report of a life-threatening, adverse reaction against human seminal plasma (male ejaculate) was reported as a result of formation of harmful antibodies (allergic antibodies) against proteins in male seminal secretions. Since that time about 100 similar cases have been reported in the medical literature.

I did a quick search and couldn't find anything that would contradict the assertion that the condition was first reported only 20 years ago. So, does that mean that the afflicted women didn't report their symptoms before then?? Or were the conditions not diagnosed as a reaction to their partner's seminal plasma?? Or has the condition really only occurred recently, perhaps because of some chemical introduced into the environment that occasionally makes its way into seminal plasma??

Gee, could it be fracking chemicals?? (First fracking was done in 1949, widespread use in 70's, don't know the 'cocktails' were widely incorporated.)

~Five cases are year is not a lot but, as the article demonstrates, the consequences are terrible.

Thanks for the post, Poly.

(ps: I often thank posters with the initials of their DU name, but referring to you as PEE seemed inappropriate. )

[BlueJazz]

5. "so the couple avoided intimacy" I doubt if I would continue the marriage.

A part of me would like to say otherwise but...To thine own self be true

[dogknob]

6. Yay! We're so advanced...

...that we are becoming allergic even to each other.

[datasuspect]

7. drink lots of pineapple juice

for nice tropical 'gurt.

[dogknob]

10. "'gurt"

Someone told me parsley for flavor.

[datasuspect]

11. just not asparagus

[HappyMe]

8. That's awful.

At least they were able to find a solution and stuck by one another through this.