I had the fortunate misfortune of getting into BDSM very young. Early on into my first serious D/s dynamic at the age of 19 my dominant partner injured my inner left labia (it’s actually still disfigured). We were also into very rough sex. I started to notice I wasn’t healing, and I was actually continuing to experience swelling. We were using good ole lubricated Trojan condoms.

After awhile I was dealing with painful burning, and swelling internally. We slowed down significantly for awhile, though I continued to have difficulty with regular latex condoms. The silver lining is that while using latex, we had no breaks.

It was recommended to us that we try the Polyurethane condoms that had recently become more available on the market. We were a little skeptical, and turns out this was with good reason. Within a week or two we had experienced at least two breaks. Not only did the condoms break, we didn’t even notice it was happening. We essentially, fucked right through them.

This was when they were used properly, we regularly engaged in foreplay, I was plenty ready.

Since we were monogamous I eventually just went on the pill, which caused a host of health problems for me. Exhausted by this whole ordeal I decided to do some research and found a promising solution:

Deproteinized NRL Condoms, essentially hypoallergenic latex. However, for whatever reason since I started searching in 2001 they have been hard to find in the US, even though they demonstrate equal efficacy besides the allergic reaction. A good summary article on them is located here: http://www.medimart.com/medicalnews/news2.html

In fact many shops have never even heard of them. I got lucky and briefly was seeing someone who had them imported from Europe, even more lucky that a few were left at my apartment. With these I experienced no reaction, and experienced no increase in breakage. Including with the same partner who had gotten me all screwed up in the first place.

This past May a partner found some at random at a CVS near my home. We both then tried looking in our area, and found none.

The question I often get asked is, so are you really allergic to latex?

The answer is funny, yes and no. With good lubrication, especially a coating of a water based lubricant, and frequent reapplication I can pretty much do whatever. If I have extended periods of rough sex, I may have some irritation and swelling. I’ve heard this has worked for other individuals as well.

It is also good practice. As I have had latex break on me too. Particularly on well endowed partners, however, when buying proper sizes, etc, this shouldn’t be an issue. Good lubrication is the best prevention. However, when latex breaks, it tends to make a loud snap and scare the fuck out of all involved.

It’s a pretty awesome alarm system, and while latex breaks still bear a risk of STD transmission, snapping, scary, at times painful latex breaks stop all activities thus reducing the risk for at least pregnancy, and reducing the risk for other STDs/STIs.

The other thing I have found unfortunately to be helpful is avoiding vaginal injury. So limited clamping, biting, suction, etc. After a scene in October I definitely re-experienced some burning post sex, and the scene has only involved clothspins. This, indeed makes me cry.

I write about this in a BDSM context because it has always been where I have experienced the most risk for latex sensitivity and condom breaks. As it tends to be more creative, rougher, and acrobatic? Though I’ve had similar issues with partners with whom I was not being posed with the expectation of obedience, or currently in combat with. While I have never seen statistics it would not surprising me if we had a higher occurrence of allergy or breaks.