Beyond the proteins unique to a given man, other allergens too can also be transmitted through the seminal fluid. These can include medications such as penicillin, and even some foods and beverages, such as walnuts and soft drinks. Women with other allergies tend to be more prone to semen allergies.
Two basic types of treatment are currently available. The first is similar to standard allergy treatments that expose a sufferer to the allergen in diluted doses.
The second involves removing other proteins known to sometimes interfere with the desensitization process from the semen plasma, and then injecting a small amount of the processed semen at regular intervals.
In both cases, frequent sexual contact is needed after the treatment.
"We actually had one case where the male spouse was unable to engage in such frequent intercourse, so his wife developed the allergy again," said Resnick.
Jonathan Bernstein, a professor of medicine at the University of Cincinnati, and one of the world's leading experts on semen allergies, told Discovery News that he agrees with Resnick, but that he believes that the processed semen — though a more expensive treatment — would be more effective.
Bernstein also believes the allergy is probably underreported.
"It may not be as rare as people think," he said. "The allergy may go unrecognized, yet it can have a significant effect on relationships."
