HEALTH TALK: Can we get a little private?

When one looks around and takes note of the number of pregnant women in the country, particularly unwed ones, one knows for sure that these women are not protecting themselves against sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).

In addition, it is amazing to reflect on the number of women who come to the office for advice or a prescription for contraceptives, but not condoms.  It is obvious that they want to protect them-selves against pregnancy but either don’t understand that contraceptives do not protect them against diseases, or that they don’t care.  So let me emphasize from the start: Contraceptives, oral or injectable, protect you only against pregnancy, condoms protect you against both.

As usual, perhaps I can talk about a few of the more common STI’s, some of which are actually more prevalent than we think.

Gonorrhea

Some have called this the ‘clap’ and many a man has experienced its symptoms.  Typically in a man, it causes severe pain while urinating and a discharge from the urethra (tube within the penis).  Usually this occurs between two to five days after infection from a woman, but it can be up to a week.  The discharge is unmistakable;
yellow and pusy (purulent).  He may also experience a tendency to urinate more frequently and with a serious urge.  Left untreated, it may spread to other parts of his genitals, such as his testicles, and a long term complication is that his urethra becomes narrowed so that a surgeon has to insert an instrument every few months to open it so that he can urinate properly.

Women may not have symptoms except a yellow discharge as well and pain during sex because other organs in the pelvic region have been infected, organs inside and outside the general area.  One of the most serious complications is what is called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or PID, which can lead to scarring of the tubes and infertility.

Tests can be done on the discharge to confirm the diagnosis, but really any doctor worth his or her salt can make a diagnosis by the story and examination.  Treatment does not have to be by injection as in the old days. Tablets in single doses will do fine but see your doctor, not your pharmacist.  There are good reasons for this.

Yeast Infections

These are no strangers to many women, particularly those who are diabetic.  As a matter of fact, to the vigilant nurse or doctor, it can serve as a first sign of that disease.  Also prone are pregnant women, those who are on contraceptives, antibiotics (as for acne) and those who are immunosuppressed (as in HIV).  Those who douche may also have that problem.  Usually, there is a thick, sometimes thin, cheesey discharge which may have a mild odor, but which itches and causes some burning on urination and redness in and just around the vagina.  It causes no complications to the woman or man – it stays where it is.  In men, there may be a few buttons in the groove below the head of his penis.  For the women, there are creams and tablets to insert within the vagina, and a cream to use simultaneously on the outside, but nowadays a simple one time capsule will do the trick.

Chlamydia

This is taking over as a cause of infertility and disease in women from gonorrhea.  The symptoms are essentially the same as are the signs.  Usually, however, it takes a longer time to manifest. The discharge in the woman is almost the same, but in men, in whom the symptoms are the same, and also take a longer time, it tends to be clear or white and sticky.  The consequences are the same, so get yourself treated by the doctor!

Syphilis

I will not say much about this because it is not very common these days.  Elderly folks will know this very well.  It starts out as a chancre, a sore in the genital area, usually on the shaft of the penis, or almost anywhere in the vaginal area for women.  Strange thing about it, it is absolutely painless, so one may not notice it. Untreated, it goes into a second stage with a rash on some parts of the body, and still untreated it goes into a third or latent (hidden) stage for up to 20 or 30 years when it will affect the heart, major blood vessels and the brain.  It was very often acquired by babies from their mother in the womb in the past. This is why every pregnant mother even today is asked to do a test called RPR, to determine whether there is syphilis in their body.  Syphilis has remained treatable by penicillin over the decades, so it’s no problem for your doctor.  Penicillin, luckily, is still one of the cheapest around.  Bad news, it’s injections.

Genital Warts

These are just as the name says.  They are caused by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV) and the importance of this is that it is implicated in cancer of the cervix, a major killer of women.  They are soft, moist, minute, pink or red swellings that look like cauliflowers.  They should be easily noticeable by both men and women and it is important that you consult your dermatologist or, better yet, your gynecologist for help.

Genital Herpes

This deserves some emphasis because it seems to be becoming a disease of the 2000’s again as it was in the early 1980’s.  It occurs in both men and women as a vesicle (pimple) in the genital area or as groups of vesicles, 7 to 14 days after contact.  These will eventually break down and form a very painful or tingling sore, particularly when wet.  Untreated, this will last for about a week.  But, it will recur because the virus never leaves your body, but hides in your nerve cells called dorsal ganglia. We can control it, but we cannot kill it.  It is essentially a nuisance now and then.  Some get it more often than others, in the same or different areas.

Trichomonas

Females have a greenish yellow frothy discharge with irritation of the genital area.  Men may have no symptoms, but sometimes things like irritations of the bladder occur.

A few things are important about these diseases: 1) they are preventable if you stick to one partner, 2) they are also preventable if a condom is used all the time correctly, and 3) they leave you more open to acquiring the HIV.

How much do I need to say about this? I will devote a whole issue to it sometime.  Ask me questions.

See you next week.

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36 Comments

  1. ROZ
    November 10, 2011

    I myself want a full STD screening for both as part of “getting to know each other”. if as a man you have issues with that, then keep it moving because this woman is not for you. I’ve done the process before and it is the sexiest thing i have ever done with a man.

  2. Cloud 9
    November 10, 2011

    Welcome the info doc…keep up the generous good deed,

  3. herpesloving
    November 9, 2011

    STD Dating Teams makes it possible for you keep your identity in top secret while you might be attending to know a possible spouse, with no giving any private info. You can check out STDpal,com. It is such online dating site for STD singles and friends!.

  4. Aye Dominique
    November 9, 2011

    I think Chlamydia is much more common than people thing it is, and not widely spoken of. Women, advice, your next routine check up, ask your doc to run the test, it really doesn’t hurt.

    This is a call for each of us to take up our responsibility as individuals, and do whatever it takes to protect ourselves. It is appalling the rate at which young people have casual sex these days, man, sometimes we tend to gamble our life for 5 minutes of groove, we need to act responsibly.

  5. v
    November 9, 2011

    thanks doc for keepin un in touch

  6. November 9, 2011

    Nice one Doc well said i hope both men and women will take heed especially the married men who are cheating on their wives and playing big christian and are elders in the church, have a good day all.

  7. angel
    November 9, 2011

    “Pregnant ladies particularly the unwed ones?”

    What about the WED ones?So because they married then?Their husband running around with all young girls behind there back.I’m telling you.The same way they having sex with their wife,”unprotected,”they same way the having sex with you.They even acting like is longtime they doe eat cake.

    So “WED” ones are at risk too…….even more at risk because they think because they married the just have to Go with no cap.stupes

    • anon
      November 10, 2011

      dat i checking!

    • em em
      November 10, 2011

      Sounds like you’re talking from experience.

      HEAR THIS…

      If you as a single woman do not accept a married man, a married man cannot cheat.

      If you as a single woman have dignity and a tiny bit of integrity in your blood, you would send every married man who comes to you right back where he came from.

      They act like they’re not getting from wifey because they are so happy to get ‘another’poom poom to ride, so don’t fool yourself.

      Your punani is not that special or else the man you had before and after the married one would have still been there.

  8. vip
    November 9, 2011

    i just dont undertsand why people are not afraid of sexual transmitted diseases.That is such an embarassment. as a matter of fact if you ask anybody if they ever caught a sexual transmitted disease they will tell you no. but people donot want to lose those they are interested in so they donot ask the question.

  9. forreal
    November 9, 2011

    doc are you saying that married couples need to use condoms also,i can understand for common transmitted diseases like trichomonas happens,but extreme transmission like HIV,when these things happen,one of the partners are not trust worthy,are you suggesting that even in marriage condoms ought to be used,if that’s what it takes to be safe.

  10. ..........
    November 9, 2011

    Doc i think i have genital warts but my doc keeps saying it is not… what test can i do to be certain?

    • Anonymous
      November 10, 2011

      go see the doc in private.

  11. DA
    November 9, 2011

    Good information. I feel the same way when I see a lot of us unmarried ladies pregnant. That’s when we realise how carefree we are about sex.

    • Shameless
      November 9, 2011

      A lot of unmarried ladies getting pregnant is a sign that times have changed. No need to get married to have children. This is modern and trendy although I can understand the churches having a serious problem since this is not moral. I am just happy that the doc focused on the infections that one is exposed to when having unprotected sex but keep in mind that in order to get the baby we have to remove the condom unless it burst during combat. 8)

  12. Anonymous
    November 9, 2011

    Great information Doc. as usual. Young ladies need to pay attention to these diseases and protect themselves. As the doctor says they are concerned about not getting pregnant and not the other aspects.

    • DA
      November 9, 2011

      WHy just young ladies?

      • !!!!!!!
        November 9, 2011

        yeah!

      • Anonymous
        November 10, 2011

        That is the misintepretation in society that have young men thinking they are superheroes with nothing to fear. Young men should also take heed, unless u think all the young ladies having sex with other young ladies

  13. lway
    November 9, 2011

    I not marrying DOC i fraid them cheating leing men ill use my condoms but mwe paka maya por stress.i 35 and i do not plan to marry none of them suckers

    • speaker
      November 9, 2011

      You dam LIE!… you sound like one of them women on shelf…talking bout u not getting married, thats cause u never get a man to marry you…dam copawazon

      • I vex
        November 9, 2011

        Whe she see time running out for her. She will pick up de first one dat ask her marry.

      • Anti-hate
        November 9, 2011

        lolz

      • Anonymous
        November 9, 2011

        Lol, lol. I think you’re right. There are still a few good men left and I plan to marry one of them!

    • .
      November 9, 2011

      No one asked you for your life story woman :lol:

  14. We the People
    November 9, 2011

    Doc, as usual a very informative article. Just one comment though. Under the subheadind genital warts, you also mentioned cervical cancer. With both conditions under the same sub-heading, one might get the impression that the HPV that causes genital warts is also responsible for causing cervical cancer. We both know that is not the case.

    The danger from misinterpreting this section of the article is, if you don’t notice genital warts, you may not need to worry about cervical cancer.

    Just my two cents. Keep the articles flowing. You are providing a very good service to your readers.

    • Playboy
      November 9, 2011

      Good point, my friend. Some strains of HPV cause genital warts, others cause cervical cancer.
      Vaccines have been developed against some HPV strains in an attempt to prevent cancer of the cervix. This vaccine is even mandatory in a small number of states in the U.S. for girls in puberty age groups, not without controversy, of course.

  15. d/ca
    November 9, 2011

    good read i must say…alot of things i didn’t know i have some basic knowledge about it…guys n gyals..stick to one patner..period!

  16. Governance
    November 9, 2011

    Doctor, thanks for the article. You should also state the best prevention from the diseases is abstinence. Secondly, partners should insist that each other take regular doctor’s examination and tests to detect the various viruses as some married men and women have outside partners.

  17. Anonymous
    November 9, 2011

    just so you know, learned doctor….yeast infections are not considered STI’s..your idiot!!

    • vip
      November 9, 2011

      that is such an unwise statement from a christian like you.you need to realize` that if you are being treated for yeast infection that your boyfriensd or girlfriend needs to be treated as well to avoid reinfection.

    • November 9, 2011

      u r just jealous! go write ur own if u claim to kno so much better!

    • Playboy
      November 10, 2011

      Go tell that to the thousands of professors, specialists, authors and victims of yeast infections all over the world. Everywhere I have read, books and internet, says that it is. Check your scene again.

  18. Up and rising
    November 9, 2011

    Thank you Doc, I always enjoy reading your articles, they are very informative.

    Just one reflexion. Is it that sex education is not being properly taught at school or that sex is still a taboo? And that parents are not informing their children?

    • GrandBay All The Way
      November 9, 2011

      Up and rising you asked a very good question. It’s sad to see that we are so behind. In this day and age parents are still not informing their kids about the dangers of unprotected sex. Some of the young girls are so uneducated and naive. As a young man I know first hand how easy it is to get the young girls to have unprotected sex. I was young and stupid then. Didn’t realize that I was putting myself at risk. I’m 35 now and my moto is no glove; no love. Young men and women need to eduate themselves and love themselves enough to say “If we’re going to do this we have to use condoms.” That idea they have that skin to skin is better that is a myth. Young men and women protect yourselves…read the the Doctor’s article and learn something from it.

  19. Shameless
    November 9, 2011

    WOW Doc, you scaring me there we boy! Well Shameless is now totally convinced that a condom is a must from here on out. Too much coshonnwye in between those lower lips papa. Ask for eating, ah done with that period.

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