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A 29-year-old woman from Lithuania spent four years trying to conceive, including undergoing two rounds of IVF, but remained unsuccessful. Medical experts were puzzled until a rare condition — an allergy to semen — was identified as the root cause. The patient, who already had asthma and was sensitive to allergens such as mould, cat fur and dust, suspected her allergies could be interfering with conception.

Tests revealed heightened sensitivity to the protein Can f 5, commonly found in dog dander and urine, which has been linked to cross-reactive allergies to human semen. Blood examinations also showed high levels of eosinophils — white blood cells associated with allergic responses — while skin tests confirmed sensitivities to mites, pollen, insects and dogs.

According to a recent case report, the woman told her allergist that she frequently experienced nasal congestion and sneezing following unprotected intercourse with her partner. Using samples from her partner’s semen, doctors confirmed she suffered from seminal plasma hypersensitivity (SPH) — an uncommon allergic reaction to proteins found in seminal fluid.

SPH, recognised as a Type 1 hypersensitivity, is characterised by an intense and immediate immune reaction similar to allergies to peanuts or pet dander. Symptoms can range from itching, burning, redness and swelling of the vulva or vagina to more severe issues such as hives, breathing difficulties, dizziness and even anaphylaxis.

The Cleveland Clinic notes that while SPH itself does not directly cause infertility, it can make natural conception more complicated. Treatment options include antihistamines before intercourse, anti-inflammatory medication afterwards or desensitisation therapy with diluted seminal plasma.

Woman Reported Worsened Symptoms Including Eye Irritation, Burning Sensation In Vulva

Condom use is typically advised for managing SPH, but the patient rejected this method due to her desire to conceive. In cases of severe allergic reactions, washed sperm — free of seminal plasma — can be used in IVF treatments. However, desensitisation therapy was not available in Lithuania, and the woman reported that antihistamines taken prior to sex were “ineffective” in controlling her symptoms.

Three years later, during a follow-up, the woman revealed that not only was she still unable to conceive, but her symptoms had worsened to include eye watering, puffy eyelids and a burning sensation in her vulva. “According to the patient, mentioned local and systemic symptoms occurred after contacting her partner’s semen in about 50 percent of the cases,“ the report noted.

Her condition was also detailed last year in the journal Frontiers in Medicine. SPH was first documented in 1967 after a woman was hospitalised due to a severe allergic reaction during intercourse. A 1997 study led by allergist Jonathan Bernstein suggested that nearly 12% of postcoital symptoms reported by women could be attributed to SPH, as per The New York Post.

Today, the condition is believed to affect one in 40,000 individuals. The report’s authors highlighted, “This case serves as a reminder that seemingly unrelated allergic conditions, when combined, can contribute to reproductive health challenges, warranting comprehensive evaluations.“