Just recently after having sex with a condom it has been really uncomfortable. I blew up balloons for a party and my mouth was irritated too. How do I know if I have a latex allergy?
Answer:
Estimates vary but about 1%-6% of the general population have a latex allergy. The more that you have exposure to latex the more likely you are to have an allergic reaction. People can develop allergies to latex even if they have not had a previous allergy. Think of it as your body's way to keep things exciting.
Rashes, bumps and death?
You may just have a sensitivity to latex that can leave you with a mild redness or irritation. There are 3 different levels of allergic reactions to latex. Just like salsa there is mild, medium and severe (hot) reactions.
Mild: Itchiness, redness, dryness, burning, scaling.
Medium: Same as above but will be more intense and last longer and could spread to other parts of the body.
Severe(Hot): Same as above and can have hives, difficulty breathing and possible anaphylactic shock which could lead to death.
Depending on what your type of reaction is you may need to see a doctor or go to the emergency room.
What do I do if I have a reaction?
First and foremost you need to figure out if the irritation is from condoms or from your lubrication or from bath washes, etc... You can figure out what is causing the irritation by stopping using various products and seeing if it clears up. If you are certain it is the latex/condoms that are causing the reaction stop use and if it is severe see a doctor you may need medication.
Is there an alternative?
Don't loose hope this doesn't mean that you can't use condoms anymore. There are several alternatives that you can use. Polyurethane, Lambskin and Polyisoprene can all be used if you have a latex allergy. They are a bit more expensive but that is better than itchy red genitals. So which is best for you? Depends on what your need is. Are you looking for just pregnancy protection... any of the above would work. Remember lambskin does not protect against STI's. Try a few of them out give them a whirl and see which ones are best for you and your partner(s).
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