:rolleyes:
Friends,

I have suffered the same 'allergy' for the last 7 years with my husband. I have a severe reaction to any tiny bit of semen - it travels up my urethra/bladder and into my kidneys and strikes! At one time, I would first suffer a bladder infection, compounded by a yeast infection and then once day my back started hurting.. This was after the first time any semen was allowed to remain in my body.. I went for an ultrasound, which found nothing, and finally the docs decided to give me a low level antibiotic to kill the bladder infection.. A few weeks later, with severe back pain (unable to stand/walk), a high fever and a serious on going headache, I went to the ER and they found traces of an infection within my Kidneys.. I was given an IV of antibiotics and was TOTALLY fine the next morning when I awoke.

Since then, I have learned to recognize the signs. I know how careful we have to be (I am also allergic to latex, therefore even if we wanted to use condoms, they're out of the question) and still get these infections 3-5 times a year. I recognize now, however, as soon as my back starts.. and the headaches (mild migraine sort and place - no light, no sound and sleep is the only cure) and then the fever hits and I know that I have only a few hours before the pain causes delleria.. and the ER is inevitable.

Here's the problem: I fight every doctor I end up seeing because none of them believe me. In fact, most all but laugh. They end up relenting and giving me Cipro (antibiotic) as I demand, just to shut me up...

Now, I'm without insurance and have yet another infection.. I am worried, as I've run out of my smuggled supply of Cipro and am staving off the infection (rather lessening it) with Amoxicillan (from a friend).. Now I have to convince some free clinic of my delimma and only successful treatment.. Hopefully my husband will find work soon and I will once again be insured.

Oh.. and one more thing.. Pregnancy? Yeah, right. We're looking into adopting as I can't imagine what havoc would be wrought on my body should I actually be able to carry to term. I have been pregnant twice in the last 7 years and miscarried both times, once because of the infection alone and the other time because of the infection and subsequent medication.

Adoption it is! There are so many children out there that need a chance anyway, perhaps this was what we have been meant to do all along.

Have any questions? Need more info? I too have done extensive research (mostly in effort to either convince a doctor or settle my own fretting) and am happy to share it with you.

Cheers!

Ok, so stop having intercourse sex. Doesn't sound like your allergic to semen, it sounds like you are prone to kindney/bladder infections/UTI's, etc.. I get them a lot after sex w/my DH. If you choose to continue intercourse sex than I suggest you go to the bathroom right after you have sex and then wash yourself thouroughly. I have a friend who is like you and what she does it every time she has sex her doctor has prescribed her antibiotics which she takes one right after every time she has sex. It fights off any infection before they can hit. But, in all honestly if you are that bad it may be that you and your DH find other ways to enjoy each other, it can be done. I had a high risk pg and couldn't have intercourse(doc's orders) and I found plenty of ways for me and my DH to enjoy our marriage. Good luck and I hope you will stay healthy.

Halls

I am willing to bet that this is not an allergy problem, but may be a chronic inflammation of some sort.

For instance, women with Interstitial Cystitis suffer from chronic pelvic pain, bladder irritation, burning, etc. Some consider this to be an "autoimmune disorder" which is similar to an allergic response.

You need to find a specialist. Your GP isn't going to have a clue with this one. Perhaps a urologist.

Do some research on the web. Remember that allergic responses are different than bacterial infections. Allergies cannot be treated with antibiotics.

I agree with Halls and Chiggins1066, I think you are just prong to bladder infections. I too have the same problem and my Urologist has given me Macrobid to take immediately after intercourse. It is also a good idea to empty your bladder before and after intercourse. I also drink one glass of cranberry juice everynight before I go to bed. I do not believe this is an allergy, I just think our anotomy is not "routed" quite right!
Hope this helps.

Yes, Macrobid is the best!!!! I know many of women who take it right after they have sex and it helps prevent UTI's etc.... I get UTI's occasionaly and when I do i always take Macrobid.

Halls

I have to agree with all of the others here. Coming from a person who started having chronic UTI's once i became sexually active, your story sounds almost exactly like mine. I also suffer from having a very small urethra so its difficult to fully empty my bladder. I would get such bad bladder infections that i would pass out on the toilet- pretty scary. After having about a dozen UTI's/Kidney infections in a year i finally got referred to a urologist (i was 18 years old) and they did a urethral dilation surgery that helped for a while, but then when i met my husband i began getting them again. I have been able to avoid them for several years now by doing the following:

1) He and i both thoroughly washing up with soap and water before intercourse

2) Keeping vigorous and long lasting sex to a minimum. The friction against the urethral opening is one of the things that causes the vaginal bacterial and general sex bacteria to travel up to the bladder.

3) Peeing and thoroughly washing up again after sex. I know its tedious but its much less painful and cheaper than a UTI doctors visit and the Rx for Antibiotics.

Keep in mind that it takes a couple of days for a bladder infection to progress into obvious painful infection. So its not likely that your kidney infection is from sex the night before. It takes a while for the bacteria to travel up through the bladder, up through the ureters and into the kidneys.

Being on antibiotics long term is not an option, it will make you prone to yeast infections because it kills off the good bacteria that keep the vaginal yeast to a tolerable amount. And eventually you will become immune to them- even cipro- and the E-coli bacteria that is causing the infection will become resistant as well.

I hope this helps and i am proof that it can go away with proper hygeine habits (not to say you arent cleanly) but you have to be SCRUPULOUSLY clean before and after sex like its a sterile procedure! This worked like a charm, and only when we are way too vigorous during intercourse do i find it harder to pee afterwards and begin to harvest the bacteria.

If you have any questions, you can email me at forgottenexistence@yahoo.com