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Contraception - Management
How should I advise someone with suspected allergy or sensitivity to male latex condoms?
- For someone (either partner) with suspected allergy or sensitivity to latex:
- Confirm the cause if genital irritation appears to be associated with condom use.
- Check the type of condom being used and if is prelubricated with spermicide — reactions to spermicide are more common than reactions to latex.
- Advise the person to use condoms made from polyurethane or synthetic polyisoprene. Deproteinized male latex condoms can also be considered.
Clarification / Additional information
- Establishing the diagnosis of latex allergy:
- The diagnosis of a true latex allergy is difficult.
- Most cases of latex allergy are mild, with reactions limited to the penis and vulva, occurring 24–48 hours after exposure. Rarely, there are generalized allergic symptoms, and anaphylaxis is rarer still.
- Repeated exposure may increase the risk of a reaction.
- If genital irritation appears to be associated with condom use, identify the cause.
- Enquire about discharge or dysuria, other skin conditions (e.g. eczema and dermatitis) and the type of condom used (e.g. whether it was lubricated with spermicide).
- Consider skin latex sensitivity tests and/or specific serum IgE antibodies against latex.
- Consider referral for further investigation if no cause of the symptoms is found.
Basis for recommendation
- These recommendations are mainly based on guidelines issued by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), formerly the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare (FFPRHC) [FFPRHC, 2007a].
- Polyisoprene
- There is evidence that polyisoprene products can be safely used in people with latex allergy [Taylor and Erkek, 2004].
- Deproteinized latex
- The FFPRHC recommended deproteinized latex condoms on the basis of limited evidence from a study with 19 participants.
- The FFPRHC also noted that the manufacturer's leaflet does not support this use [FFPRHC, 2007a].
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