For the last 2 and a half months I've had what I thought was a bladder infection. I've been taking all the crannberry suppliments, and had perscription drugs. None of this is working. I was fine for about a week until I noticed something. My boyfriend and I are getting more serious, and have started using condoms. I had an rash one time from a pair of latex gloves I was wearing at work, and never thought anything of it. I just stopped wearing the gloves, but now I'm facing a bigger problem. The symptoms I'm experiencing are horrible. I feel exactly like I have an bladder infection. I've noticed that I have a delayed reaction to the condom though. It is usually 7 hours after the fact that I experience the bladder infection like symptoms. Could it be the spermacide and not the latex? And how harmful is it to my health to continue using this method of contraception? Could I possibly make the allergic reaction worse if I come in contact with latex again?

Non-latex condoms are available but do break more easily.

Yes, if you are allergic to latex and you continue to be in contact with it, your problems will get worse and some day be life threatening.

My dermatologist told me a reaction only takes place when latex gets wet. In other words dry latex would not bother me. Latex gloves accumulates moisture from hands and activates the allergy and condoms will do the same when wet.

I've heard about the non latex condoms, but I'm a little worried about how effective they are. And it's interesting that you say an reaction occurs when the latex is wet. My hands were wet when I was using the latex gloves, and of course the condom is wet when i have an reaction. It usually doesn't bother me to just touch a condom, or something latex. Thanks for your advice.

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Take care, Alicia

I had the same problem with so-called bladder infections but it turned out my allergy was to deodorant soaps (safeguard, dial, etc.) I use a daily femine wash (massengil) now and no longer have the problems and my husband only uses Ivory.

Interesting. I only use lever 2000 because my skin is sensitive to stonger soaps. I don't think that could be the problem though as I shower daily, and don't take baths for the very reason that the soapy/fragranced water may cause me problems if I sit in it for too long. I'm not sure what my bf uses for soap, but I'm still going to rule that out as a problem. Thanks for your suggestion though.

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Take care, Alicia