I think I’m allergic to condoms. My partner thinks I’m just making excuses, but I’m not! Is it possible to be allergic?
It does sound like a pretty good line, “We can’t use condoms because I’m allergic.” In reality, you could be allergic. The first place to start is with the lubrication on the condoms you are using. If the condoms are lubricated with the spermicide Nonoxynol-9, this could be the cause of your problems. N-9, while it does kill sperm and viruses, also causes irritation in many people, and can actually increase your risk of getting STDs/HIV. So ditch any condoms lubricated with N-9. If you were already using plain, lubricated condoms, then you need to try out a non-latex condom. There are condoms on the market now that are made of polyurethane. They are effective at preventing pregnancy and the transmission of STDs; however, they haven’t been tested as strenuously as latex condoms, so it’s recommend that people use latex condoms unless they have an allergy. The only brand of polyurethane condoms that don’t have N-9 are made by Durex and are called “Avanti.” Most drugstores carry them, or you can buy a bulk order online. They are more expensive than latex condoms, but if they don’t cause an allergic reaction, then you might be willing to shell out the extra cash. Try out an Avanti and see if you still think that you’re allergic. If you are still having negative symptoms, it’s time to head over to Student Health and Counseling for a check-up. Anytime you have a rash or major irritation of your genitals, getting it checked out by a health care provider is your best bet. You may also be allergic to other latex products like Band-Aids, latex gloves, and so on. Be sure to ask your doctor about a latex allergy and what it means for you.
What is “dysplasia”? My roommate said that she’s got it, but it’s not a big deal.
Dysplasia means abnormal cell growth anywhere in the body. When you go for your regular, annual, gynecological check-up and they do a pelvic exam, one of the things your provider will do is a Pap test. This is when they will collect a few cells from your cervix to look for any changes or abnormal growth. If you have abnormal changes, your doctor will let you know that you have “cervical dysplasia.” If it goes unchecked (i.e., you don’t get your annual exams) and untreated, it can possibly progress to cancer, or in some cases, heal on its own.
Cervical dysplasia has been linked very strongly with the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause genital warts and is usually, although not always, sexually transmitted. It is estimated that at least 1 in 4 people are infected with HPV, so it is extremely important to get a Pap test done every year. In fact, 80% of sexually active people will likely contract HPV at some point in their sexual lives. College age women are actually at a higher risk to contract HPV than any other segment of the population. As you get older, and potentially enter into a long-term monogamous relationship, your risk will decrease and your provider may not feel you need to get a Pap test every year. But for now, it’s simple and quick-and you can get it done at Student Health and Counseling. They have a well-trained OB/GYN nurse practitioner and a gynecologist on staff who enjoy working with college-aged women and will be sensitive to your needs and concerns.
Keep in mind that if you are diagnosed with HPV or with cervical dysplasia, it does not necessarily mean that you “got it” from your current partner. You could have gotten this from anyone in your past as well-it can remain undetected for years. The more partners you have, the higher your chances of getting HPV-and you can become infected with more than one kind. Actually, there are over 100 different types of the human papilloma virus and only a few of them cause actual, visible genital warts. The warts are caused by low-risk types of the virus that are much less likely to lead to cervical dysplasia; the multitude of high-risk types, which don’t cause visible signs, are the ones that have the potential to cause abnormal cellular change and possibly progress to cervical cancer.
It may not be a big deal for your roommate-but that’s because she found out about it in time.
Questions?
How many times have you had a question about your body or your health that you felt weird asking a friend or someone older? Especially when it’s about sex? Jill Ringold, who received her master’s degree in Public Health and is a certified health education specialist, is the health educator in the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness. And she’s here to help answer those questions that you really want to ask. If you want to submit a question, please send it to [email protected] or via our anonymous portal on the Student Life website (www.studlife.com).