# \[Sex\] Irritant saliva causing pain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 6, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-irritant-saliva-causing-pain/298087 "2005-04-06T20:06:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-irritant-saliva-causing-pain/298087/21 "2005-04-07T12:43:18Z")
> [@04/04](#): > > Understood. I’ve talked to the medical professionals and now I am coming here. I appreciate all the responses and encourage more. And it’s not quite simply that you just have sex for too long? And have you checked for latex allergy? ---
**Author:** ![04\_04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/e56c9b/32.png) [@04\_04](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/04_04)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-irritant-saliva-causing-pain/298087/22 "2005-04-07T14:09:01Z")
> [@irishgirl](#): > > Has she tried taking allergy medications to see if that helps the irritaton? Obviously it’s not going to help with the thrush, but allergies to semen and saliva aren’t completely unheard of. > > You’ve already said you’ve both been checked thoroughly, so you know what you’re dealing with, which is why I’m sure someone has mentioned Bacterial Vaginosis to you and made sure it’s not that. BV is another non-STD thing caused by an overgrowth of bacteria, but I’m thinking that you’ve already ruled it out. Just mentioning it because it’s often associated with symptoms of discharge, odour and sometimes itching and discomfort for a few days after sex. > > If you’re using a diaphragm, cap or IUD for birth control, or she uses a re-usable menstrual cup it may be contributing to the problem. Consider alternatives. > > Other than those suggestions (which I’m sure isn’t telling you anything you don’t know/haven’t tried) I’m really sorry, but I haven’t a clue. Allergies - We use condoms, so semen should not be an issue. Saliva I will look into because I haven’t yet, but if she were allergic to saliva it would have been an issue with her former partners. On the other hand, if I have unusual saliva what about my former partners? That info is a problem. I was in a long term relationship before this one and while I would like to discuss it with my former partner, I can’t. Not ‘I don’t want to’ but ‘unfortunately it isn’t an option’. BV - Good suggestion, but yes that has been ruled out. Birth control is solely condoms. No re-usable mentrual cups. Anyone have any suggestions on what kind of specialist might help with this? ---
**Author:** ![04\_04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/e56c9b/32.png) [@04\_04](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/04_04)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-irritant-saliva-causing-pain/298087/23 "2005-04-07T14:13:50Z")
> [@Arwin](#): > > And it’s not quite simply that you just have sex for too long? And have you checked for latex allergy? No, it isn’t that. Also, we are using non-latex now and have been for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-irritant-saliva-causing-pain/298087/24 "2005-04-07T15:08:37Z")
> [@04/04](#): > > No, it isn’t that. Also, we are using non-latex now and have been for a while. Well, you’ll laugh but the first girlfriend I had also suffered from Yeast infection, and the doctor indicated that coming inside her was a very natural way to prevent Yeast infections. So you may want to change from the condom to the pill, if that’s an option, and see where that gets you. That tends to also reduce irritation, because less stimulation is needed for both, generally. Of course, if that is an option at all. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-irritant-saliva-causing-pain/298087/25 "2005-04-07T15:56:43Z")
1. Yeast infections are generally now thought to almost never be transmitted from a yeast infection in the male, and treating the male doesn’t seem to help. However: 2. Salivia is shown to increase the chance of yeast infections. [http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/516721.html](http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/516721.html) "Thirty-three of the women went on to develop new yeast infections. They were 2.6 to 2.9 times more likely to get infected again if they recently engaged in cunnilingus (oral sex upon a woman) or masturbated with saliva (either theirs or their partner’s). It didn’t seem to matter if their male partners were infected or how often they had genital intercourse, Reed says. “We’re speculating that there’s some interaction between components in the saliva and her vaginal wall that makes her more likely to develop symptoms as she reacts to the [yeast] that might be present.” In terms of stopping the cycle, I’d suggest going overboard on all the things that help prevent yeast infections and avoiding anything else that might cause irritation. 5 o’clock shadow and beards can be irriating to her skin, she should wear cotton non-thong underwear, eat yogurt, wear loose pants. Also, she should wash after sex with mild soap and water. Plus if she doesn’t reach for the Monistat/diflucan at the first symptom she might be able to “fight it off”; the vagina can self regulate yeast in many cases and that might help build a resistance. _not a doctor, but familiar with an identical situation_ ---
**Author:** ![Iris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a5b964/32.png) [@Iris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iris)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-irritant-saliva-causing-pain/298087/26 "2005-04-07T16:34:17Z")
Since yeast thrives in warm, moist environments, it’s really important for women who get recurring vaginal yeast infections to keep dry down there. In addition to washing with a mild soap & water after sex, she should also make sure her vaginal area is completely dry afterwards. Sex aside, drying yourself thoroughly after showering, swimming, etc. can help prevent yeast infections. As silly as it sounds, hair dryers work really well for this! Someone gave me this advice years ago when I was suffering from recurring yeast infections and it worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-irritant-saliva-causing-pain/298087/27 "2005-04-07T19:10:21Z")
I had a similar problem for a long time (burning pain during sex) and got checked numerous times for STDs and yeast infections. My gyn assumed (and probably saw) a yeast infection but nothing seemed to help. OTC and prescription meds, even herbal remedies (garlic pills and acidophilous) didn’t clear it up. It wasn’t until I stopped eating sugar and carbs completely - and also lost weight due to this diet - that my problem went away and I was able to enjoy sex again. If i go back to eating sugar and other carbs the yeast does come back. It’s not in the form of a full-blown itchy yeast infection (which I have had, every time i take antibiotics, and those do go away with OTC remedies) but just a constant wetness and a bit of odor which leaves my “area” wet and thus creates the internal burning. Check out info on [candida](http://www.yeastconnection.com/) - I was never specifically diagnosed with this problem, but after reading more about it i’m pretty sure that was it for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-irritant-saliva-causing-pain/298087.md?page=1)