Exam Gloves

So what type of gloves are everyone using?

Is there anyone still using good ole latex?

With so many folks having some type of allergy to latex I use Nitrile gloves.

I have been able to acquire gloves in several colors... purple, red, pink, green, and blue.

I use the regular latex or blue nitrile depending on the ladies preference...Or sometimes for more sensitivity none at all...

Dr Philip - The UK Play Doctor.

Can't beat latex!

Unless the women has an allergy to it.

And like Dr Phillip say - no gloves at all if extra sensisitivey is required.

😃

I use latex and nitrile..it just depends on what is available.

I have also seen the newer vinyl gloves. I haven't used them in a playdoc setting yet, but in using them at work, they seem to be a loose fit, and have less tactile sensation when compared to latex or nitrile.

Has anyone tried them in an exam setting?

I also wonder if the sensation for the patient is different from one type to the next.

I prefer to use latex, since I believe the feel is the best, and how they are white.

I also like the thinner exam gloves, which are usually only latex, since it provides a more tactile feel, but I mean, as long as it comes in small or extra small, I'm good, since that tightness turns me on always.

There are a lot more folks that have an adverse reaction to latex than you might imagine.

As she mentions in her situation reactions can be brought on via airborne means, still some are brought on with incidental contact, yet others only get a reaction after a longer contact period such as deep, involved, extended probing, and sadly there are folks who may exhibit a reaction for the first time while they are under your care.

In any event, it is advisable not to use latex at all, in case your patient is allergic to latex and doesn't know it.

At the very least act like a medical professional... ask about allergies and take whatever steps are necessary to insure your patient's safety and your peace of mind.

Just my thoughts... play nice. 😉

I would try to avoid latex products in a clinical setting.

Nitrile would be the choice because some patients may not be aware of their latex allergy.

I have both latex and nytrile but sensitivity and complains of itching and burning concerning to latex are really growing...

I use nitrile, seams like latex allergies are always getting worse, and there are more and more people with it. So just to play it same I only use nitrile.

Blue nitrile ones A, due to the high level of latex allergy around now, and B, they look good contrasting against the skin if the exam is being photographed!

[quote author=AndreaUTSLC74 link=topic=44786.msg393674#msg393674 date=1319525792]

Allergies and latex... If a patient says they are not allergic to latex, ask them a followup question. Ask them if they are allergic to any nuts, avocado, banannas as well as any fruits or vegetables. . . . .

[/quote]

Let's NOT get over excited about latex allergies. While some people have a severe allergy to it, if a person says they are not allergic to it and has been using it without trouble, it is fine regardless of their stated allergies to nuts, bananas, avocados, or anything else.

Just ask what equipment they have been using and if they are unaffected by ordinary condoms or gloves. (Yes, I know there are also condoms made of polyurethane.)

But we do get hyped up over allergies, well, we seem to over here, I get patients coming to theatre with allergy bands on because they're allergic to cats and dogs, or housedust, I did have a patient allergic to adrenaline once, it made her heart beat faster so she assumed it was an allergy!

Whilst the reported level of latex allergy is on the rise, I think it's still fairly rare to discover one that is so bad it will lead to anaphalaxis.Having said that, I have a friend who always says she's allergic to latex to get bumped up the theatre list, In the UK standard protocol is latex allergy goes first on the list it seems.

I wasn't trying to be flippant over allergies, i'm latex sensitive myself, but we do in the UK go over the top with documenting some of them, If you take my adrenaline example, the nurse should have explained to the patient that her response to adrenaline was normal, but no, the patient stated it was an allergy, so the nurse flagged it up, the same with cats and dogs,when are you likely to come across a cat or dog in a theatre location? I've even had a patient with hayfever flagged as an allergy, hayfever is a condition bought on by an allergy, you can't be allergic to hayfever!

If it's a drug, latex or certain food allergy we do take it very seriously.

I never use latex gloves, unless the ladies specifically request for

I recognize that there are some people who have extremely severe or anaphylactic reactions to various allergens. However, applying the restrictions that some people require to the population or saying that other foods or materials may have cross reactions when they never had a previous problem, is overkill. If people know they have certain allergies, they need to make them known to their partners, but for widespread adoption of latex-free precautions is not necessary.

Basically, people just need to use a little common sense when they play. If people have not had a problem with materials they have been using, it is unlikely they will suddenly start, but if they have had a prior allergic event, they need to make that known.

Personally, I would prefer for doctors or nurses to use white latex gloves.

Nitrile gloves seem to have grown on me, however I also appreciate the authentic snap of a soft white latex glove. Recently I think I might have found a new interest in surgical style gloves, especially with double gloving using a colored under glove. Nice thing about them is that they come both in latex and non latex varieties.

Latex is the best. Personally I love using them in play exams from sound of the glove snapping over your hand to the aroma of the latex whats not to like. Just my .02.

I have a latex allergy when it comes in contact with my skin. I also make sure when I get vaccinations that the bottles they come in do not have any parts that may contain latex just to be safe. We discovered it when I was at the dentist when I was little and after the exam i literally had red welts where ever the dentist touched my face for a prolonged period of time!

I don't have an allergy to latex not that I'm aware of anyway. But I can't recall being asked by a doctor if I had such an allergy before he examined me internally. The problem in the UK was that your medical records didn't follow you around, so if your GP who holds your central records had a note of an allergy then the FP clinic down the road might not be aware of that at all.

I guess the responsibility is yours to declare it if you are in fact aware of it.

I wondered if any other women had been asked this question before having an intimate examination?

I noticed my wife's uro-gynecologist used cheap plasticky looking gloves, almost like bread wrapper material. I was really surprised

I wondered if any other women had been asked this question before having an intimate examination?

I have never been asked this prior to any of my exams where the doctor gloved-up and examined me intimately. The doctors in my recent memory have all used nitrile gloves, so also no reason to ask about allergies to latex gloves. I do like latex better as the snapping noise is much more pronounced than it is with nitrile gloves.

Due to the increase in latex allergies our unit only uses blue nitrile powder free gloves for all non-sterile procedures for the protection of both the patient and healthcare worker . For sterile procedures we use GAMMEX Non-Latex Sensitive surgical glove,offering unprecedented comfort and sensitivity with advanced allergy protection (against both latex and chemical allergies) for healthcare workers and patients .

If you have ever witness and treated a severe life threatening anaphylactic reaction to latex you would only be too aware of the possible compilations of overlooking such a question when dealing with a patient. In addition we also avoid using anything latex in my clinical environment.

RN1993,

AMEN!!!

I have a deadly allergy to latex. I could write volumes on it. I do have it in all my medical records in multiple places so it is NOT overlooked. I am also ALWAYS VERY proactive in making sure anyone who gives me any form of medical care is acutely informed and reminded of this allergy. For those with latex sensitivities and allergies to it, they need to be aware that it lurks in all sorts of materials and is used in countless things and occupations such as the food industry, solvents, glues, paints etc. One term to also be aware of is natural rubber and rubber materials.

I'm not using latex gloves any longer because of not infrequent latex allergies. Usually I'll wear plastic or nitrile gloves.

I have a severe latex allergy. I think it is written all over my medical record because I have been very diligent about this. This is not just a little skin rash, I am an RN and needed to change job positions because of this allergy. You need to be aware that some of the medical equipment that is available contains latex ( rubber) and can cause problems for both the doctor and the patient. Things like catheters, dildos condoms etc can have latex or rubber and can put a damper or play time if not careful.

Just because you don't have an allergy now foes not mean you will not develop one. I developed my latex allergy in the 80's at the beginning if the AIDs emergence when the medical field started to insist the every one wear gloves ( prior to the except for sterile procedures it was considered insulting by most if you wore gloves) allergies can develop at any time.

Be aware if something you have used for a long time suddenly causes irritation, redness, itching, swelling or any of the other allergy symptoms this could be the beginning of an allergy. Allergic reactions can go the spectrum from very mild irritation to life threatening reactions and do not necessarily progress slowly.

Rolereversal said:

I have a severe latex allergy. I think it is written all over my medical record because I have been very diligent about this. This is not just a little skin rash, I am an RN and needed to change job positions because of this allergy. You need to be aware that some of the medical equipment that is available contains latex ( rubber) and can cause problems for both the doctor and the patient. Things like catheters, dildos condoms etc can have latex or rubber and can put a damper or play time if not careful.

Just because you don't have an allergy now foes not mean you will not develop one. I developed my latex allergy in the 80's at the beginning if the AIDs emergence when the medical field started to insist the every one wear gloves ( prior to the except for sterile procedures it was considered insulting by most if you wore gloves) allergies can develop at any time.

Be aware if something you have used for a long time suddenly causes irritation, redness, itching, swelling or any of the other allergy symptoms this could be the beginning of an allergy. Allergic reactions can go the spectrum from very mild irritation to life threatening reactions and do not necessarily progress slowly.

You are absolutely correct!!!<

/p>My deadly allergy started as a minor rash on the top of my hand. Without warning it became life threatening. I have a post further down in the forum that has Ex-Member on it, post #6 in this thread. It is one of my old posts. This is an ugly allergy that also triggers additional allergies due to one of the proteins in rubber. There is a lot to learn about this allergy if you have it or if someone you know has this allergy. Some allergies and sensitivities to certain foods, nuts, seeds, vegetables etc are connected to natural rubber, a.k.a. latex and rubber products and products that contain it. Unfortunately this information is not as widely known as it should be. Yes, latex exists in all sorts of places and items in the medical field, as well as a vast majority of many other things many people do not think of associating with rubber.

RN1993 and musik07 have also advised of very important info on this allergy.

@ bethany williams,

Yes, it is the responsibility of the person with the allergy to latex to disclose it along with any other allergies and sensitivities. It is also the responsibility of the medical professional to ask the person about any allergies and sensitivities they have.

Andie

Right now I have a box of black nitrile and blue nitrile... looking to get a box of pink latex next.

For the most part I do use latex in my play. But that's my preference (and my partners). I tend to buy surgical gloves because I can buy them in my correct size rather than the more generic examination gloves that come in 'small' and fit me poorly.

I do like the range of colours you can get for Nitrile though!

I prefer latex, the smell, the feel and proper fitting is what works for me