Latest news with #sexualhealth
Medscape
8 hours ago
- Health
- Medscape
Sexual Effects Persist After Cervical Cancer Treatment
CHICAGO — Patients treated for cervical cancer need dedicated survivorship care to address long-term symptoms and sexual health concerns. That was the conclusion of a review of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from among 919 women in the international phase 3 OUTBACK trial. The PROs showed that numerous sexual health symptoms and concerns persist 3 years following treatment, Linda Mileshkin, MD, reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025. The 10 top-ranked PROs at 1-year follow-up — based on responses from the 64% of trial participants who completed a European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaire — and their persistence or resolution at 2-3 years, based on responses from 37% of trial participants, are listed in the table below. Table. Frequency and Duration of Top-Ranked Moderate-to-Severe Symptoms 10 most common moderate-to-severe PROs after cervical cancer treatment Number (percentage) of patients reporting symptoms at 1 year Number (percentage) of patients reporting symptoms at year 2 or 3 Worries about future health 135 (44) 49 (36) Hot flashes/sweats 132 (37) 49 (37) Frequent urination 126 (35) 45 (36) Sexual activity not enjoyable 125 (64) 43 (34) Trouble sleeping 117 (32) 37 (32) Feeling tired 104 (29) 33 (32) Changes in bowel habits 102 (28) 41 (40) Financial difficulties 101 (28) 32 (32) Pain 96 (27) 23 (24) Dissatisfied with body 95 (26) 27 (28) PROs = patient-reported outcomes PROs were based on responses to the EORTC core questionnaire QLQ-C30; cervical cancer module QLQ-CX24 (questions 50-54 only for sexually active points); EORTC Item Library questions on abdominal, urinary, bowel, and chemotherapy side effects; and FACT-GOG-NTX-4 neurotoxicity over 36 months. A moderate-to-severe long-term symptom issue was defined as a score in the worst 2 response categories (EORTC items), a total score ≤ 8/16 on FACT-GOG-NTX4 at years 1, 2, or 3 for Objectives 1-2, or an equivalent subscale score for Objective 3. Adapted from Mileshkin L. Program and abstracts of the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting; May 30 to June 3, 2025; Chicago, Illinois. Abstract 5503. The OUTBACK trial assessed the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer. That study demonstrated that ACT increased adverse events without improving overall survival compared with CRT alone. Regardless of whether patients were assigned to the CRT + ACT or CRT-only treatment group, the issues and frequencies from PROs in the current analysis were observed, reported Mileshkin, who is director of Medical Oncology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and first author for the OUTBACK trial. Given the low questionnaire completion rates at 2-3 years, the PROs may represent underestimates, she said. At 1 year, moderate-to-severe peripheral neuropathy affected 24% and 18% of those who received CRT + ACT and those who received only CRT, respectively, and at 3 years, the corresponding rates were 19% and 12%. At baseline, 77% of patients reported no sexual activity in the prior 4 weeks, and at years 1, 2, or 3, 92% reported low sexual activity, 68% reported low enjoyment, 40% reported moderate-to-severe vaginal tightness, 37% reported vaginal dryness during sex, and 32% were moderately to severely worried that sex would be painful. The rates of poor sexual enjoyment were somewhat lower with CRT-only treatment, whereas the rates of sexual worry were higher among those with CRT + ACT. Age younger than 60 years was an independent risk factor for experiencing sexual concerns. Though limited by the low completion rate at 3 years and a lack of data on menopausal symptom management and use of vaginal estrogen or dilators, the findings underscored the importance of discussing and managing the long-term effects of CRT with patients, Mileshkin said during her presentation at the meeting. Cervical cancer treatment in clinical practice will change over time, but 'meanwhile, there's going to be hundreds of thousands of women who've had this type of treatment who continue to recover and live with these side effects,' she stressed. 'I hope [these findings] will help clinicians remember to ask patients about these issues and try to address them because women won't necessarily volunteer them themselves.' Mileshkin disclosed honoraria from GlaxoSmithKline and the limbic; research funding from BeiGene; and travel, accommodations, expenses, and another relationship with Roche.
Medscape
3 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
AAP Updates Adolescent Contraception Guidance
An adolescent-centered approach to contraceptive counseling for adolescents should be informed by evidence, with attention to sexual and reproductive health equity, according to a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The policy statement and an accompanying clinical report were published online in Pediatrics . The statement updates the previous policy statement issued in 2014. One of the notable changes is the adolescent-centered approach, which is a departure from counseling approaches based entirely on efficacy. Although the authors acknowledged the complex legal support for minors to consent to contraception or receive confidential care in the United States, which varies by state, the statement recommends 'a sexual and reproductive health equity-informed and adolescent-centered approach to counseling about contraception.' The statement also recognized that adolescent-centered contraceptive counseling goes beyond pregnancy prevention. Sexually active adolescents are at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and the authors emphasized the importance of addressing adolescents' broader sexual health needs, including discussions of healthy relationships and interpersonal violence, human papillomavirus vaccination, STI screening, and use of contraception for STI prevention. The goal of the recommended shared decision-making approach is to center adolescents' priorities about contraception and help them identify a contraceptive method that best aligns with their 'goals, preferences, and life circumstances,' the authors wrote. The pediatrician provides method-specific information and counseling to enable the adolescent to meet those goals, they noted. For example, adolescents for whom pregnancy prevention is the most important goal could be prescribed highly effective long-acting reversible contraception, but for those for whom the use of no hormones or devices is a priority, a clinician could recommend a barrier method supported by pediatrician education and counseling to meet this goal. 'On a practical note, adolescents' buy-in is critical to contraceptive use, and a less-effective method that is consistently and correctly used may provide better pregnancy protection than a more effective method that is discontinued,' the authors wrote. Sexual and reproductive health is an important component of both adolescent and adult well-being, but contraceptive use among adolescents remains low, said corresponding author Mary Ott, MD, in an interview with Medscape Medical News . 'By their final year of high school, about half of adolescents have had sex, yet only about half of those adolescents report condom use and a third report contraceptive use; consequently, adolescents experience unacceptably high rates of unintended pregnancies and other negative sexual health outcomes,' said Ott, a professor and adolescent medicine specialist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. The updated statement provides the pediatrician with tools to improve adolescents' access to counseling and contraception in a pediatric primary care setting, Ott said. Statement Shows Shift in Approach Ott told Medscape Medical News that in the updated statement, '[t]he pediatrician is encouraged to approach the adolescent from a position of curiosity and empathy, assess the adolescent's reproductive health goals and preferences, attend to developmental and contextual factors, and to use a shared decision-making approach to contraceptive counseling.' For example, if an adolescent strongly wants to avoid pregnancy, the pediatrician might start with a discussion of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods, such as an implant or an IUD, but if the adolescent would like medical benefits such as improvement in acne or in heavy, painful periods, the pediatrician might recommend a combined estrogen-progestin method, she said. Barriers of Time and Communication 'Time is always a barrier when counseling adolescents, and the AAP has information on time-based billing,' Ott said. Additionally, not all pediatricians are well versed in all contraception methods, but the AAP's suite of reports on contraceptive methods can help, as can the companion clinical report issued in conjunction with the new policy statement, she said. 'While parents and caregivers are often considered barriers to adolescent contraceptive access, the reality is much more nuanced,' Ott noted. Parents and caregivers are often their child's first and most important sex educators, and provide grounding in family and community values, but this is not true in all cases, said Ott. Some adolescents want to involve parents or other trusted adults in contraceptive decision-making, while others may not feel safe or comfortable doing so, she said. 'As a best practice, adolescents may choose to include parents, caregivers, or other trusted adults in healthcare visits involving contraception and sexual health, but [they] should always have the option to talk one on one with their pediatrician about their sexual and reproductive health needs and preferences,' Ott said. 'The AAP supports innovative approaches to expand contraceptive access, such as through pediatric primary care, virtual visits, pharmacies, and over-the-counter access,' said Ott. 'Same-day, low- or no-cost access to contraception has been shown to decrease adolescent pregnancies,' she added. A Clinician's Take The recommendation to shift to adolescent-centered care over efficiency alone for contraception was surprising, given the state of reimbursement and relative value unit-driven medical practices, said Margaret Thew, DNP, FNP-BC, a nurse practitioner and specialist in adolescent medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, in an interview. Adolescent care overall takes more time, and shared decision-making requires extensive education of the patient, said Thew. 'Another surprise is the promotion of telehealth and pharmacy prescribing for contraception; both are absolutely available and encouraged, but provider bias and reimbursement concerns result in barriers to offering care,' she said. 'In my experience, pediatricians do not feel confident to prescribe contraception and refer to adolescent medicine or a gynecologist, which delays access,' she added. Persistent barriers to offering contraception to adolescents include the politics within states that are driving fragmented reproductive care, Thew told Medscape Medical News . Other barriers to offering adolescent-centered counseling include lack of time, potential provider bias, lack of understanding on the part of providers of the confidential care for adolescents available within their states, and fears of upsetting parents, Thew said. Additional research is needed to understand more completely how the impact of potential bias, provider confidence, and barriers to access affect prescribing contraception, and the resulting impact on adolescent access to contraception, Thew noted. However, 'the implications of providers prioritizing and respecting reproductive autonomy to adolescents will improve access and remove barriers to contraceptive care,' Thew said. 'There are both public health and societal implications with offering adolescent-centered counseling on contraception, including reducing unintended pregnancies and abortion, but also empowering women and transgender and gender diverse persons with access to contraception, leading to improved socioeconomic outcomes,' she said.
Health Line
4 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Here's What Happens When You Mix Alcohol and Sex
Alcohol may lower inhibitions and increase desire, but it may also make it harder to get wet (if you have a vagina) or maintain an erection (if you have a penis). The implication that alcohol works like some sort of love potion has been around for ages. It's a common belief that alcohol gets you loosened up, horny, and ready for action. But does alcohol actually have an aphrodisiac effect? Is there such a thing as beer goggles? Will drinking make your orgasms better, or just leave you too sloshed to orgasm at all? Here's a look at how alcohol actually affects your sexual desire, arousal, and performance. Alcohol's effects on sexual desire A drink or two may boost arousal, but it's not a sure bet. At low doses, alcohol may lower inhibitions and produce feelings of euphoria, which may lead some people to be more open or receptive to sexual activity. There's also an element of expectation. People often associate drinking with lowered inhibitions and feeling sexier and more confident. It's kind of like a self-fulfilling prophecy: If you expect to get lucky when you're drinking, you probably will. Heavy drinking, in contrast, is associated with the opposite effect, and alcohol dependence is associated with sexual dysfunction. Alcohol's effects on sexual function Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, which means that it slows down certain body functions, including breathing, brain function, and blood flow. This can negatively affect sexual experiences in various ways: By making it more difficult to get and maintain an erection Alcohol can affect the ability to get and maintain an erection. This is because: It decreases blood flow to the penis. It depresses your central nervous system. It increases angiotensin, a hormone linked to both hypertension (high blood pressure) and erectile dysfunction. Drinking too much on the regular can also cause permanent damage and erectile dysfunction. By reducing vaginal lubrication When you're aroused, your body prepares for intercourse by increasing blood flow to your genitals, causing them to swell and self-lubricate. Drinking too much can affect these physiological responses and reduce vaginal wetness, resulting in friction and discomfort. By reducing sexual stimulation Drinking large amounts of alcohol can also reduce sexual stimulation or the pleasurable feelings associated with sexual activity. This reduced genital response happens because of restricted blood flow and brain function. It can make sexual activity after consuming large amounts of alcohol not feel as pleasurable as it would otherwise. Alcohol's effects on orgasm Alcohol can make it more difficult to reach orgasm. This affects people with penises and people with vaginas. While one drink may not interfere with blood flow down there, one drink too many can have a physiological, cognitive, and behavioral impact that can cause alcohol-induced orgasmic dysfunction. Orgasmic dysfunction can mean: taking longer to climax or experiencing delayed ejaculation, which is taking longer than 30 minutes to reach orgasm and ejaculate with sexual stimulation having less intense orgasms not being able to orgasm It's unlikely that a couple of drinks are going to prevent you from ejaculating, but drinking too much can. Drinking large amounts of alcohol regularly, such as having alcohol use disorder (AUD), can also negatively affect your ability to orgasm. Alcohol's effects on risk-taking A drink or two may have a relaxing effect and lower inhibitions. This might make you more open to exploring new things or engaging in sexual activity. However, drinking large amounts of alcohol can affect your decision making and impulsivity. This may cause you to make decisions you wouldn't necessarily make otherwise, such as engaging in sexual activity without using a barrier method like a condom. Alcohol, consent, and sexual assault Consent is a clear, voluntary agreement to take part in sexual activity. This includes all sexual activity, including: touching kissing oral sex anal sex vaginal sex You need to give and get consent before taking part in any kind of sexual activity, so all involved are sure the sexual activity is wanted and agreed to. Alcohol can impair a person's judgment, affect their ability to communicate clearly, and even make it hard to read what someone is trying to say or express. This can make it hard to have a straightforward conversation about consent. Alcohol doesn't cause sexual assault, but alcohol use can be a contributing factor. Clear consent is necessary before any type of sexual contact. Alcohol doesn't exempt anyone from that. Getting consent before and during sexual activity is extremely important when mixing alcohol and sex. If someone has consumed too much alcohol, they cannot give clear consent. Engaging in any type of sexual activity with someone who's too drunk to give consent is sexual assault or rape. Verbal consent The best way to ensure you have consent is to straight up ask. You can be direct and name or describe the act you're talking about, like, 'Can I kiss/go down on you?' or you can ask them what they want to do. You can also talk about what you both want beforehand and set clear boundaries and expectations. Be sure to check in during, too, by asking if they're still into it and before moving on to another sexual act. Remember that you can both change your mind and withdraw consent at any time, even during the sexual encounter. Nonverbal consent Body language, including facial expressions and hand gestures, can be used to give consent. Make sure it's obvious, enthusiastic, and clear before and during any sexual activity. This is especially important when there's alcohol involved, since drinking can make things fuzzy and impair a person's judgment. Some examples are nodding your head to say yes or shaking your head to say no. Pulling someone closer to you can indicate consent, while pushing someone away or turning away from them shows you don't consent. If someone appears uncomfortable or you're not sure, stop what you're doing and ask verbally. Consent should be obvious and enthusiastic, even if no words are used. What to do if you've been sexually assaulted: Call 911 if you're in immediate danger or are injured. Reach out to someone you trust. You don't have to go through this alone. Contact the police to report the sexual assault. What happened to you is a crime. If you're raped, get a 'rape kit' completed immediately. This can be administered at a hospital or clinic and will be useful to collect evidence, regardless of whether or not you've decided to report the sexual assault to the police. Contact your local sexual assault center to seek counseling. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Best practices to keep in mind Alcohol can definitely muddy things up when it comes to engaging in sexual acts with someone else, but there are some things you can do: Set a drink limit: Stick to it to avoid drinking more than you mean to. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 recommends two drinks or less per day for males and one drink or less per day for females. Pace yourself: Alternate between alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. Bring protection: If you think tonight might be the night, pack some form of barrier method protection, regardless of whether you're expecting oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Your body, your prerogative: Do not be pressured into doing anything you don't want. Do not try to coerce anyone else into sexual activity.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
The people who are 'allergic' to humans
Some people are allergic to others – but the mystery of how this works is only just starting to be unravelled. Warning: This article contains sexually explicit language and themes. Maura believes condoms saved her life. Now 43 and living in Ohio, US, Maura says the problem first started in her twenties, when it slowly crept up on her. 'I noticed that my genitals burned after [unprotected] sex," she recounts. Maura (whose name has been changed to protect her privacy) didn't feel comfortable mentioning it to her partner. So, she'd wait until he left and then wash herself thoroughly. She tried changing the personal care products she was using, from soap to lubricant. But the problem only worsened, extending to swelling and redness. And it only happened after she came into contact with semen. Eventually she broke up with that man, and started seeing one who was dedicated to using condoms. "It wasn't an issue until one night when we were lying in bed after sex and my tongue suddenly began to swell," Maura recounts. "My partner saw what was happening, screamed, 'You're asphyxiating!' and grabbed my inhaler…he was able to cram my inhaler into the corner of my mouth, and he just started firing it. Luckily, I was still breathing enough to draw the medicine into my lungs." Maura, who also has asthma and a number of allergies, believes that the condom had leaked. She and her long-term partner are now even more careful about condom usage. Until it happened to her, she didn't know it was possible to be allergic to semen, she says. Though they're extremely rare, some people suffer severe immune reactions to other people's bodies. These often-misunderstood conditions can affect not just health, but also work, relationships and generally how someone moves through the world. But how exactly these reactions unfold, and what causes them, remains largely mysterious. Are they true allergies, or something else? As scientists begin to glean some hints, these strange responses are uncovering insights into the chemistry of our bodies and the quirks of the human immune system. From the skin Often, sensitivity to another person's body relates to the external products turning up in that body. For instance, the skin can carry synthetic fragrances, including in deodorants and aftershaves. Over 150 fragrances are linked to contact allergies. The trigger is not always clear. One American woman with a severe version of mast cell activation syndrome, in which infection-fighting cells start malfunctioning, developed debilitating allergic reactions to her husband's scent. Sabine Altrichter, a doctor at Kepler University Hospital in Austria, says that while the link isn't proven, some patients with mast cell disorders suspect that they're sensitive to natural body odours or chemicals emitted by other people's skin. The skin emits many compounds that contribute to body odour. These skin gases can include chemicals like toluene, which occurs in crude oil and is used to make products including paints and plastics. People can absorb toluene deliberately, for instance when inhaling glue to get high, or unintentionally, for instance through exposure at work. Toluene is also one of numerous chemicals in tobacco smoke. One group of people who might be able to shed some light on reactions to other humans are those suffering from the mysterious condition People Allergic To Me (PATM). PATM is an unusual and isolating phenomenon where others frequently develop allergy-type symptoms, such as coughing and choking, in their presence. In 2023, Yoshika Sekine, a professor of chemistry at Japan's Tokai University, and his colleagues investigated the skin gases emitted by those reporting symptoms of PATM. Of the 75 skin gases the team studied, toluene was especially likely to be present. People in the PATM group emitted 39 times more of this chemical, on average, than those without the condition. "Toluene is inhaled through the air during breathing. As a harmful compound, it is typically metabolised by the liver and excreted in the urine," Sekine explains. "However, PATM patients have a diminished ability to break down toluene, leading to its accumulation in the bloodstream and subsequent release through the skin," he says. Sekine notes that the very concept of PATM is still not widely recognised, and there are no diagnostic criteria for it. Meanwhile, sweat allergy generally involves sensitivity to one's own perspiration, rather than others'. As for hair, in the rare cases where allergies related to human hair have been recorded, the reaction has been caused not by an allergen in the hair itself, but allergens in external substances: for example, formaldehyde derivatives in keratin hair treatments, or a cat protein that gets into cat owners' hair. From bodily fluids Allergic reactions can also be triggered by specific allergens carried in bodily fluids. In one UK case, a woman with an allergy to Brazil nuts developed hives and shortness of breath after having sex with a man who had eaten mixed nuts a few hours earlier, even though he had cleaned his teeth, nails and skin in between. Nuts have also led to allergic reactions during kissing in people with severe allergies. While nuts are the most commonly reported allergen posing an issue during kissing, saliva has also induced allergic reactions following the consumption of fruits, vegetables, seafood and milk. Women with antibiotic allergies have reacted negatively after vaginal and (possibly) oral sex with people who had taken those medicines. But beyond these external allergens, proteins within certain bodily fluids themselves can also trigger a reaction. The one that some clinicians are familiar with, though there are still major gaps in awareness, is semen. Semen allergy, or seminal plasma hypersensitivity, involves developing symptoms ranging from a raised, itchy skin rash (hives) to the potentially life-threatening allergic reaction anaphylaxis, after exposure to this bodily fluid. It has been recorded mainly in people in their 20s and 30s, although there have been fewer than 100 documented cases overall, according to a 2024 paper. The allergen most frequently linked to this sensitivity is a prostate-specific antigen, a substance that can trigger an immune response, in the seminal plasma. This is the fluid, apart from sperm, that makes up the majority of semen, and the allergy is to a protein within it, rather than the sperm itself. It's not clear exactly what is occurring in the body in people with seminal plasma hypersensitivity, explains Jonathan Bernstein, a professor of clinical medicine, focusing on allergy and immunology, at the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine in the US. Bernstein says that there aren't good animal models for seminal plasma hypersensitivity, or enough humans with the condition to enable large-scale research. Cases of semen allergy can be localised or systemic. When the symptoms are localised and limited to around the area of contact, this is usually reported as occurring with or around the vagina. But in one Spanish case report, a woman who had never experienced an allergic reaction after vaginal sex lost consciousness and developed other symptoms of anaphylaxis following anal sex. She was diagnosed with hypersensitivity to seminal fluid. A woman in the US also experienced swelling and rash in a non-sexual situation, when her skin came into contact with ejaculate. The local symptoms can include severe pain and burning immediately after intercourse. "It's [reportedly] like acid," Bernstein says. One of his patients described it as "like a thousand needles being stuck into your vagina." A person might be sensitive to the semen of multiple partners or just one, Bernstein notes. Diagnosis typically involves a skin prick test using a fresh sample of seminal fluid from a sexual partner. In his practice, Bernstein typically sees women in monogamous relationships with men, often when they're trying to get pregnant. Some people travel long distances to consult with him, as there aren't many authorities on semen allergy. Many patients get brushed aside or are started on aggressive steroid treatments because medical professionals don't know what to do with them, Bernstein says. However, Bernstein explains that his practice is able to help just about everyone with a semen allergy. There is a notable absence of data about semen allergies among men who have sex with men. Bernstein says he has never seen a case of this, though it's unclear why. He wondered if the symptoms could be related to the particular conditions within the vagina, though this doesn't explain the case where it occurred after anal sex between a man and a woman. Treatment options One previous treatment Bernstein trialled involved courses of injections of a partner's semen within or under the skin to desensitise the patient. This is similar to the treatment for post orgasmic illness syndrome, a rare and often-debilitating condition where men are sensitive to their own ejaculate. But this was costly: "patients were having to pay for that because there was a lot of laboratory work in preparing the samples," Bernstein says. Bernstein and his colleagues found that it was reportedly equally safe and effective to localise the treatment, in a one-time procedure of about two hours. First, they separated the sperm from the seminal fluid. Then they diluted the seminal fluid to one part in a million or one in ten million, depending on how severe the patient's reactions were. Then, at intervals of 15 minutes, they inserted the fluid into the patient's vagina. They gradually used stronger concentrations of the fluid, so that the patient developed a greater tolerance. Throughout, they continued monitoring the patient. As a result, "they don't tend to have many systemic reactions and they are able to tolerate unprotected intercourse thereafter" with at least that partner, Bernstein says. In general, hypersensitivity to seminal plasma remains often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. There's even less information about certain other fluids transmitted during sex. There is almost no published research on possible allergy to cervicovaginal fluid – a liquid secreted by the cells of the cervix and vagina, which helps to lubricate this region and provide some protection from pathogens. However, Marek Jankowski believes that he's seen at least one person with this condition. Jankowski, an assistant professor of dermatology and venereology at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Poland, says he once treated a patient who came to him after seeing a host of other doctors. The patient reported that about 30 minutes after vaginal intercourse, his genitals would become red and itchy. His face would also itch after cunnilingus. To the patient, this seemed like an allergy, but doctors ridiculed or rejected this idea, says Jankowski. However, Jankowski kept an open mind, looking up other cases of potential allergy to cervicovaginal fluid secreted by women during sexual activity. "Ultimately the patient responded well to antihistamines," he reports. The case also prompted Jankowski and his colleagues to carry out a study, published in 2017. The researchers surveyed other dermatologists as well as people who might be experiencing this condition. One-fifth of the dermatologists who responded had witnessed such cases, they reported, though many doctors remained sceptical that the condition existed. According to this research, sufferers reported redness, itch, burning, swelling and hives following contact. Their reports led Jankowski and his colleagues to estimate that allergy to cervicovaginal fluid was as common as semen allergy, which is thought to affect at least tens of thousands of people in the US alone. However, "the current level of evidence for cervicovaginal fluid allergy phenomenon is only circumstantial and further research in this field would be necessary," Jankowski explains. One difference between allergies to semen versus cervicovaginal fluid is that condoms would be unlikely to relieve the symptoms of any allergy to the latter, since condoms would not shield the groin and scrotum. But both antihistamines and repeat exposure appeared to help the survey respondents with their allergy to cervicovaginal fluid, according to the survey results of Jankowski and his coauthors. "As [the] majority of cases identified were young adults early in the sexual relationship, the flame of passion was apparently stronger than the discomfort, and repetitive [exposure] to the allergen led to desensitisation," Jankowski notes. This differs from seminal plasma hypersensitivity, which is not known to resolve itself naturally. For the people who are allergic to some aspect of their partner, the consequences can be grave. Maura believes that her semen sensitivity played a part in her and her partner's decision to not have children, because she expects that it would have been expensive to find a workaround that enabled her to avoid exposure to semen. The emotional impacts can be complex, for both sufferers and their partners. While Maura's relationship is safe and her partner is happy to use condoms, "he did tell me that he was offended by the idea that I was allergic to his semen," she says. 'He doesn't blame me for that, just the universe." -- For trusted insights into better health and wellbeing rooted in science, sign up to the Health Fix newsletter, while The Essential List delivers a handpicked selection of features and insights. For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Menopause among topics for free Wolverhampton women's event
Women will be able to speak to medical specialists about issues such as the menopause, sexual health and mental health at a free event next two-hour session is due to take place at the Penn Manor Medical Practice, an NHS GP surgery in Wolverhampton, from 10:00 BST on 5 Shivaleela Bailwad will lead the event which organisers said was aimed at women aged from 18 to 70 and no booking was are due to speak at the session and those who attend will be able to ask them questions. "So many women suffer in silence with issues that impact their quality of life," Ms Bailwad, from The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said."This event is about breaking those barriers, offering expert insights and ensuring every woman knows that support is available." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
