Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to natural rubber latex were first recognised in 1979.¹ Since the late 1980s, latex allergy has been recognised as a major problem, especially in individuals such as healthcare workers who use latex gloves at work every day^{2, 3} and in patients heavily exposed to latex gloves—for example, children who undergo multiple surgical interventions for congenital neurological or urological abnormalities.⁴ Condoms, widely used as a means of contraception and/or to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, were among the first latex products reported to cause an allergic reaction—going from genital urticaria to anaphylaxis—in individuals who had become sensitised to latex.^5–8 This is not surprising given that classic latex condoms may contain as much latex allergen as latex gloves.^{9, 10}

Among latex allergic people who use condoms, these reactions are not rare.^{6, 8} We recently questioned 238 of our latex allergic patients—mostly women, and half of them healthcare professionals—about their use of condoms¹¹; 39% reported having used condoms at least once since becoming allergic to latex. The large majority (84%) of those who had used condoms reported having had a local and/or a generalised immediate hypersensitivity reaction on contact with a condom during sexual intercourse. Local itching and swelling were the most frequently reported complaints, but at least one fourth of them had also had cutaneous urticaria, angioedema, and/or respiratory symptoms, leading them to no longer use condoms. Many of …