text: Is it truly condom allergy?\nAllergy to latex condoms can cause a rash on the penis, or on the genital skin of your sexual partner. As well as redness, there may be blistering and itching. The rash usually occurs 6–48 hours after using the condom. If these are your symptoms, latex allergy could be the reason, but other things can also cause similar symptoms. For example, using a perfumed bubble bath, soap or shower gel that does not suit you can cause irritation on the genitals, or an infection such as herpes might be responsible.\n\nSome condoms contain a spermicide (usually nonoxynol-9), so your problem could be sensitivity to the spermicide, rather than to the latex rubber.\n\nTry non-latex, non-spermicide condoms\nNon-latex condoms are available, so it would make sense to try these. Check the description on the packet. Non-latex condoms will usually state that they are made from polyurethane (but there are other non-latex materials). As well as not provoking an allergic reaction, they do not have a rubbery smell. Also, they conduct body heat better so they feel thinner than they really are, which may make sex more pleasurable.\n\nDurex Avanti is a widely available polyurethane condom. \neZ.on is a polyurethane condom that is ‘bidirectional, so you can put it on inside-out. \nTactylon is another non-latex condom. \nResearch suggests that the Avanti and Tactylon condoms are as effective for contraception as the usual latex types. However, non-latex condoms are slightly more likely to break, so take extra care putting them on (see Using a condom).\n\nCheck that the condom does not contain spermicide, such as nonoxynol-9. (In fact, this is less common in condoms now, because research among women at high risk of catching HIV showed that nonoxynol-9 actually increased their risk.)\n\nLatex allergy can be serious\nLatex allergy can sometimes be much more serious than just a rash. It can cause shortness of breath, feeling faint and swelling of the skin shortly after contact with latex. Anyone with these symptoms needs immediate medical attention. If this has happened to you in the past, you need to discuss it with your doctor, because in rare cases this type of reaction can be fatal. If you have latex allergy and need a medical or surgical procedure you should inform medical staff; you should also tell your dentist.\n\nYou may have food allergies as well\nLatex comes from the sap of the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis. (This is different from the rubber plant that you might have at home.) People who are allergic to latex may be allergic to some plant foods that contain similar chemicals, especially avocado, potato, banana, tomato and kiwi fruit.\n\nSources of information\nBeezhold DH et al. Latex allergy can induce clinical reactions to specific foods. Clinical and Expperimental Allergy 1996; 26: 416–22.\n\nBlack K, Kubba A. What’s new in contraception? Trends in Urology, Gynaecology and Sexual Health 2004; Jan/Feb: 22–5.\n\nGallo MF et al. Non-latex versus latex male condoms for contraception. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003; 2:CD003550. Oxford, Update Software.\n\nReddy S. Latex Allergy. American Family Physician 1998; 57: 93–102.\n\nWorld Health Organization. WHO/CONRAD technical consultation on nonoxynol-9., World Health Organization, Geneva, 9-10 October 2001: summary report. Reproductive Health Matters 2002; 10: 175–81.