Do you have a latex condom allergy or know of someone with one? Or is this the first time that you've ever heard of such a thing? A latex condom allergy can affect anyone, and at any stage of their life. The symptoms can mimic other conditions, so it's important to know what you're looking out for, the good news is that it can easily be avoided and put to bed once you know how to treat it. Here's everything you need to know about having a condom latex allergy and how to spot the symptoms to this easily remedied allergy.
What is a Latex Condom Allergy?
Latex is found in many common products and is a product which is made from rubber trees. The most common latex product is of course, the condom. The condom is one of the most popular forms of protection, but also one that can trouble a lot of people. There are around one to three percent of people in the United States that suffer from a latex allergy, and if you're suffering discomfort in your netherparts you might be part of this growing statistic too.
You're more at risk of developing a latex allergy further down the line if you constantly work with latex products such as healthcare workers who have to wear latex gloves every day, and even more so those who manufacture latex gloves. So now you've got a grasp of what exactly the allergy is, now you need to find out whether it's an allergy that you might be suffering from.
The Symptoms
Like any allergy, there are different levels of a latex allergy ranging from mild to in some cases severe which could trigger a fatal anaphylatic shock. It's mostly in cases of a mild allergy that the symptoms are hard to spot and pin point to what might actually be causing them. Either way, they cause unpleasant symptoms that can easily be avoided.
The mildest form of a latex allergy will pose symptoms such as itching, red skin or hives on the genital area. More severe symptoms will be joined by difficulty breathing, coughing, or even a scratchy throat. The mild symptoms could easily be mistaken for thrush or an STI. Once these two conditions have been ruled out, and if you are a condom user, the likelihood is that you have a mild latex condom allergy.
What Can You Do About It?
If you continue to experience the above symptoms and other conditions have been ruled out, speak to your doctor and get them to run a test so they can determine that you actually are allergic to latex. The good news is once you've been diagnosed with this allergy it can be avoided in a series of ways, without having to impact your sex life.
The obvious solution is to stop using latex condoms, you don't need them in your life anymore, and the good news is that there is plenty of more options. If condoms are your no1 method of birth control you can easily make the switch to latex free condoms. Whilst it is a smaller market than conventional condoms, there is a wide variety to choose from. Mates Skyn Latex Free Condoms are a popular choice, they're much softer and more flexible than traditional condoms, whilst they offer the same strength and reliable protection as a standard latex condom. Latex free condoms are typically made from a non latex material called Polyisoprene. These are also the thinnest condoms in the Mates range, delivering great sensitivity and a skin on skin like feeling that you won't even feel like you're wearing a condom!
There are of course other ways that you can protect yourself during sex, but condoms are the way forward to helping you have safer and more comfortable sex in 2017.
Sex is supposed to be fun and enjoyable for both partners, so if you're suffering from discomfort, get yourself checked out and find a solution that works for you both! Keep up to date with all of our latest news on our social media pages: Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
