Spermicides

[Brandye]

I received a pm on reaction to spermicide. I am not certain that was the cause but there are actually three different spermicides that are commercially available. Different products use different spermicides.

Nonoxynol 9 is the most common but the others are being used more commonly. they are Octoxynol 9 and Benzalkonium Chloride. The first two are detergents chemically related to what you use use to wash dishes or clothes. If you have a reaction to those products, you may ract to these vaginal spermicides. The third, Benzalkonium, is a different class of chemical.

Either party can react to the spermicide with a burning or itching rash. This will go away if use is discontinued. There are other considerations such as latex allergy. More people react to latex than to the spermicides. Additionally, latex condoms are abrasive at a molecular level. I had a sex marathon one weekend while at university and we used an embarassing number of latex condoms. I also used vaginal jelly as lubricant but ended very sore for several days. This was a result of the abrasiveness of the condoms, not a reaction to the spermicide.

Sexually active women will also develop urethritis from time to time. This causes burning urination and may be confused with reaction to the spermicide. This is easily treated and you should have this checked out (urinalysis) before discarding the spermicide. I continue to recommend that condoms and spermicide be used together until you prove that you react to all three of the common spermicides. If you start with non-lubricated, non-latex condoms you can avoid the abrasiveness of latex and control what spermicide you are using. Latex condoms also taste bad if you do oral with a condom.

This site is a lengthy discussion of spermicides. At the bottom is a listing of what brands of spermicides use which one. The alternative is to camp out at the spermicide counter and read all the labes.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...di/202531.html