Do your lips tingle or swell after blowing up a balloon? Are you itchy, sore or red during or after you use latex condoms? Do you suffer from allergies? Read on; you may need to look for an alternative to male latex condoms.
Latex comes from the rubber tree plant. Because of increased use of rubber products, particularly LATEX GLOVES in health and dental care, and LATEX CONDOMS for protection against sexually transmitted diseases, many people are exposed to natural rubber proteins.
Sometimes allergies cause local irritation, for example a rash, itch, redness, or hives. Some allergies are more severe and can even stop a person's breathing. People who experience other allergies have a greater chance of developing allergies to latex as well.
Latex proteins can enter our bodies in many ways: by contact with skin or mucous membranes (e.g. when a dentist uses a dental dam in a person's mouth, or when a doctor uses latex gloves to do a vaginal or rectal examination); by eating food touched by latex gloves; by breathing air containing latex proteins; or by using needles (injections) that have been in contact with a rubber stopper.
Male latex condoms are the most recommended form of protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Diaphrams, cervical caps, cervical sponges, and latex condoms ALL contain natural rubber latex and can cause irritations and/or allergies for some people. Others have reactions to the various types of spermicides or lubricants which often accompany barrier use.
Alternatives to Latex condoms:
- Two options at present are "Avanti", a male condom (cost for box of 5 or 6 is $15-20 Can.) and "Reality", a female condom (cost for 3 is between $10-$12 Cdn.). Both are made of a synthetic material called polyurethane.
- For men, natural membrane condoms such as lambskin, can be used with a latex condom so that the natural membrane is next to the latex allergic person's skin; Natural membrane condoms are effective for birth control only, not for protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
Resources
Medical: for advice or testing see your doctor. There are tests that an allergist can do to discover what a person is allergic to and what things should be avoided.
Condoms:
- Rubber Rainbow, 953 Denman St., Vancouver, BC V6G 2M3
Ph 604-683-3423
- Rubber Rainbow 100, 560 Johnson St
Market Square
Victoria, BC
250-388-3532
and they have a toll free order line at 1-888-423-7193
- Condomania (http://www.condomania.com) - Head Office in New York
- www.femalehealth.com (For information on female condoms).
- Allergy To Latex Education & Resource Team (ALERT)
Asthma/Allergy Center #795, PO Box 1997 Milwaukee, WI 53201
Ph 414-677-9707 Fax 414-677-9708
www.execpc.com/~alert
In this section:
How Can I Reduce My Risks?
See Also:
