“I can’t tonight babe, I’m allergic to your semen.”
Sounds like a cop out from a lazy lover. Too bad it’s completely real and fairly common. Experts believe that between 20,000 and 40,000 American women are affected by this odd affliction, called seminal plasma hypersensitivity (SPH) by the smart kids.
It must be wicked embarrassing, yeah, but the pain is worse. Women with SPH experience severe pain up to an hour after getting frisky. Besides discomfort and swelling around the nether regions, she may also experience hives or diarrhea and as well as chest tightness or shortness of breath. A particularly sensitive sufferer may even faint.
It’s not just the pain—SPH can drive a couple apart. Couples affected by this often avoid sex out of fear. One woman even noted that she stopped wearing sexy undies around her husband. Don't think that it can't happen to you, either. SPH is a tricky one sometimes showing itself later in a woman's life. Rearchers aren't sure why (that's comforting).
Fortunately, there are treatments available. The root of the irritation lies in a protein within the semen, so not much can be done to change him. Instead, desensitization procedures can be administered on the suffering lady. In these sessions, the woman is given diluted solutions of the semen in question. After that, the couple must have sex at least once every 48 hours (not always easy—remember, the lady is in pain) to encourage further desensitization. Eventually, the sensitivity will diminish and, with it, the pain.
Overall, sex shouldn’t hurt—at least after the first several times. SPH is a reminder to talk to your doctor if it does!
Image: see? It doesn't want to hurt anyone. Courtesy of Pixabay
