"Condoms cause life-threatening anaphylaxis"

Natural rubber latex (NRL) has emerged over the last decade as an increasingly common trigger for anaphylaxis-producing allergies. It is found in a wide range of manufactured goods, including an estimated 40,000 common household items. Latex allergies now affect an estimated 1% to 6% of the U.S. population and the reasons for the increase in incidence can be attributed to biohazard precautions and manufacturing changes.^1-3

You may be interested in learning more about latex allergies including information on variations in severity, who is at risk, and prevention and treatment.

Prior to the 1980s, reactions to latex were virtually unknown in the United States. Now, recent estimates put the incidence of latex sensitivity or allergy among the general U.S. population at between 1% and 6%, or up to 16 million people.^1-3

Biohazard precautions
It is commonly acknowledged that the sudden, large-scale increase in latex glove use by health care workers since the 1980s lies at the heart of the growing problem of latex allergy. As health care workers sought to protect themselves from AIDS and other blood-borne diseases, latex glove use became virtually universal in hospitals and other medical and dental facilities. Patients, and especially health care workers, were exposed to more latex than ever before and many have become sensitized to it.

Manufacturing changes
To keep up with increased demand, manufacturers sped up their processes and resorted to lower quality latex, both of which have resulted in latex products with higher levels of the protein that can trigger allergic reactions.

Latex allergy is an allergic sensitivity to the proteins in natural rubber latex (NRL) that often worsens with each exposure and at its most severe can result in deadly anaphylaxis. Unlike synthetic latex, which rarely causes allergic reactions, NRL comes from the milky sap of rubber trees. Using various processing techniques, NRL is used alone or in combination with other materials to make thousands of products including:

Dipped latex products are the biggest culprits in triggering allergic reactions, including:

Sensitization occurs when exposure to latex proteins causes the body's immune system to develop antibodies to these proteins. Because the body perceives the latex protein as a threatening foreign substance, it prepares to launch a defense against it in future encounters using the antibodies it has created. Therefore, people may have been sensitized to latex without yet showing external allergic symptoms. They are, however, at risk of becoming increasingly sensitized and eventually symptomatic if exposure to latex continues.

Sensitization refers to an increasingly strong allergic reaction to the same amount of allergen over time.

Antibodies are proteins that help the body to identify specific foreign invaders to the body, such as latex and other allergens.

Because latex can cause local skin irritation, or dermatitis, as well as more severe allergic reactions, it is important to distinguish between these so that symptoms of potentially fatal allergic reactions are recognized and treated, and proper precautions against future reactions are taken.

Dermatitis
Two types of skin irritations, or dermatitis, are common among frequent users of latex products, particularly glove-wearing health care workers:

While annoying, dermatitis reactions are not dangerous per se, nor necessarily directly related to latex. There can, however, be progression from dermatitis to latex allergy. Severe skin irritation can make a person more susceptible to developing an allergic hypersensitivity to latex because the skin no longer protects more sensitive internal tissues of the body, which are more vulnerable to sensitization.

Latex allergy (immediate hypersensitivity)
True latex allergy occurs when the body's immune system becomes sensitized to latex proteins, usually over the course of repeated exposure. As a result of sensitization, the immune system overreacts to latex as a hostile intruder.

Allergic symptoms range from irritating to life threatening, becoming progressively worse with repeated exposure. Allergic symptoms include the following, and may occur singly or in combination:

Full-blown anaphylaxis, which can include any of the above, can cause death through suffocation or a severe drop in blood pressure.

Asthma is a condition in which the airways narrow due to an allergic hypersensitivity.

Rhinoconjunctivitis is an allergic condition common in children during the pollen season that is characterized by sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion.

Since it's impossible to predict when an allergic reaction might escalate into deadly anaphylaxis, and because it can take only minutes to do so, it's important to take even seemingly mild allergic reactions seriously. Thus, those who have experienced allergic symptoms in response to latex should avoid further contact with it and consult their physicians about carrying self-injectable epinephrine with them for anaphylactic emergencies.

THE FDA SAYS ONLY 1% OF LATEX DEATHS ARE REPORTED

Delayed contact dermatitis from chemicals in rubber has been recognized since the 1930s.4 But except for rare early reports, clinicians did not appreciate systemic allergic reactions to latex proteins until 1979, when case reports began to appear in Europe. 5

Latex allergy erupted in the United States shortly after the Centers for Disease Control introduced universal precautions in 1987. By late 1992, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 1133 reports of serious allergic reactions and anaphylaxis occurring to patients and health care staff associated with 30 classes of latex medical devices. There were 15 patient deaths associated with latex barium enema catheters.5,6

The FDA estimated that the reports represented only 1% of actual occurrences.6

Today, researchers hypothesize that the latex allergy outbreak is the result of multiple factors including deficiencies in manufacturing processes, increased latex exposure, hand care practices, immunological cross reactivity, and changes in latex agricultural practices.1,7,8, 45

Latex allergy affects between 8%-12% of workers in all health disciplines. Latex allergy also affects up to 51% of children with spina bifida, and approximately 1% of the general population.

http://www.nursingworld.org/readroom/position/workplac/wklatex.htm

Condoms Cause Infertility in Men
September 2001
WHAT IS MALE INFERTILITY?

Infertility is the failure of a couple to become pregnant after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. In both men and women the fertility process is complex, and, in many cases, infertility is caused by a combination of problems in both partners that conspire to prevent conception.

About 10% to 15% of couples experience some form of infertility, and, in approximately 40% of these cases, male infertility is the major factor. Another 40% of infertility problems are caused by abnormalities of the woman's reproductive system, and the remaining 20% involve couples who both suffer reproductive difficulties.
Infertility affects one in 25 American men.

More than 90% of male infertility cases are due to low sperm counts, poor sperm quality, or both. Whether sperm counts are declining overall in industrialized countries is a controversial issue.

Declining Male Fertility?

Although there have been reports of declining male fertility in the US and in Europe, several recent studies have not found a drop in sperm counts over the past 50 years. A large 2000 study based in Los Angeles, for example, found virtually no change in sperm count from a study conducted in the 1950s. Similarly, a Danish study showed no change in sperm quality in men born between 1950 and 1970.

Some experts suggest that the decline observed in other studies may not have taken into consideration normal sperm fluctuations that can occur from year to year and from season to season. Sperm counts also appear to differ by region.

Temperature and climate, then, may play some role in the differences seen from country to country and from year to year. In one study, Finland had the highest measured sperm count in the world, while Britain's was low. (It should be noted that a more recent study has reported a significant decline in sperm count in Finnish men between 1981 and 1991.) In another study, the sperm count in New York City was much higher than that in Los Angeles.

Note: Many studies are limited, and most rely on data from sperm banks, which also may not reflect the male population as a whole.

CAUSES
Environmental Assaults

Over exposure to environmental assaults (toxins, chemicals, infections) can reduce sperm count either by direct effects on testicular function or on the hormone systems, although the extent of the effect and specific environmental assaults involved are often controversial.

Exposure to Chemicals. In most cases, avoiding toxic environments can restore sperm count.

* Pesticides with estrogen-like effects have the strongest evidence for sperm reduction.
Overexposure to estrogen reduces the number of Sertoli cells (the cells necessary for the initial development of sperm). Such pesticides include DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, PCPs, dioxins, and furans. One 1999 study of couples in a fertility clinic reported that when men had a history of moderate or high on-the-job exposure to pesticides their fertility rates were lower than men without such exposures. Although tests of single chemicals containing estrogen have reported little dangers, other studies indicate that exposure to more than one of these chemicals may be very harmful.

* Phthalates are chemicals used to soften plastics. Most are harmless, but the most commonly-used one, called DEHP, may warrant concern, animals exposed to DEHP had lower than normal sperm counts. In addition, there is some concern that exposure in pregnant women may affect their children.

* Other chemicals are under investigation. In one 2000 study, workers in a rubber factory who were chronically exposed to hydrocarbons (ethylbenzene, *benzene, *toluene, and *xylene) had lower than average sperm count and sperm qualities. These are used in MASSIVE QUANTITIES IN CONDOM MANUFACTURE.

Another 1999 study suggested that men whose work exposes them to aromatic solvents used in paints, varnishes, glues, and metal degreasers and other products may be at risk of reduced fertility. Still, not all major work has confirmed the effects of these chemicals and evidence showing any significant effect is weak.

In addition to the effect on fertility, some researchers believe overexposure to chemicals may also contribute to testicular cancers. In fact, a 2000 study concluded that there was a link between sperm abnormalities and testicular cancer.

Among the study participants, men in couples with fertility problems were more likely to develop testicular cancer. In addition, low semen concentration, poor sperm motility, and abnormal sperm morphology were all associated with increased risk for testicular cancer.

* Used in condom manufacture

"Sometimes wondered if the allergic reaction is due to the latex, latex machioning oils/chemicals, or the ninox-9 on the stuff.'

Actually it is ALL the above. Condoms are without doubt THE MOST TOXIC PRODUCT on the market today.

N9 - Proven to cause birth defects and increase so called 'AIDS' (immune suppression).

Talc - FDA carcinogen

Benzene - FDA listed carcinogen

Toluene - FDA listed carcinogen

Silicone - FDA listed carcinogen

Trimethylsiloxy condom lubricant - Known carcinogen

TETRAMETHYLTHIURAM DISULFIDE - FDA listed teratogen (causes birth defects)

N-Nitrosamine - Possibly the most carcinogenic substance known to man.

Latex proteins - Can cause type IV deaths

N-Cyclohexyl - Serious effects

and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

CONDOMS KILL

CONDOMS CAUSE

Birth defects
Cancers
Infertility
Immune Suppression (AIDS)
Impotence
and hundreds of lesser conditions.

WITH A GLOVE, IT'S NOT LOVE!

http://groups.msn.com/LIDS-Latexallergiesandthedangersofcondoms

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