Having fun (and safe) sex when you have latex allergies can be tough at times. Many of the products we use both to make sex different (like sex toys ) and to make sex safer (condoms, gloves, dams) tend to be made of latex.

The good news is that there are latex free options for most sex related products that traditionally contain latex. The bad news is that these alternatives tend to be much more expensive than their latex originals.

When it comes to sexual behavior, there are four types of products that are typically available in latex, which need to be avoided if you have a latex allergy:

• Condoms
• Dental Dams
• Gloves
• Sex Toys

Non Latex Condoms

Condoms are probably the most common concern for people who have latex allergies when it comes to sex. If you’ve done your research and know that it is the latex condom you are reacting to, you can explore the variety of non latex condom options available in the U.S. There are both traditional male condoms and female condoms that are available in non latex materials. Name brands include Avanti , Reality Female Condom , and Trojan Supra. I tend not to recommend the Trojan Supra as it is only available with a spermicidal lubricant, which many people may react to.

Non Latex Dental Dams

Dental dams are thin sheets (usually made of latex) that were originally designed for use by dentists during more involved procedures. Over the years they have been recommended as a barrier to prevent fluid transmission during oral genital contact (oral/vaginal or oral/anal). Currently there is one brand, called “Hot Dams” that are made of polyurethane, the same material used for the Female Condom and Avanti non latex condom. These dams are available in flavored and unflavored, and are manufactured by the Female Health Company.

Non Latex Gloves

Gloves are a great barrier for any kind of penetration play involving fingers and hands. They can also be a fun part of role play! The most commonly available gloves, the kind you find at drug stores tend to be latex. Because of concerns about increased exposure to latex, hospitals and health care settings are using latex gloves less frequently. There are several options for non latex gloves. The most easily available options are vinyl and nitrile. Nitrile gloves may be a preferred choice both because they tend to be more resistant to punctures, and also because it offers more sensitivity and freedom of movement. But both are latex free options. Be sure that the gloves you are using are “medical grade” and not “utility grade”. Only the medical grade gloves are tested for FDA specifications.

Non Latex Sex Toys

Many popular and fun sex toys can contain latex. Soft rubber dildos, vibrators, brightly colored floggers, harnesses, restraints, almost anything that is soft and stretchy (and not made of animal skin) may contain some latex. Even products that don’t specify they are made of latex may contain some latex.

In the factories where mass manufactured sex toys are made, they routinely use the same molds for different styles of product. A mold may have latex in it one week, and a different material the next week. But because they don’t sterilize their molds there could be latex in a product that is called something else (e.g. jelly rubber). Also, if a toy is made in a factory where they are also using latex, it is possible for latex in the air to find its way into your sex toy that isn’t supposed to have latex in it.

If you know you have a latex allergy, the safest choice is to either purchase a hard plastic sex toy or silicone rubber sex toy.