Doctor's advice: Do I have gonorrhoea?

Q If a guy has sex with a girl who has gonorrhoea, is it absolutely certain that he will get it too?

Three weeks ago, some friends and I went on a visit to Kingston. Somehow, I got separated from the main group and met a pretty girl. She invited me back to her place, and we ended the evening by having sex. It was nice, and I hope I may see her again one day.

Unfortunately, we did not use protection, as I did not have any condoms with me. And I did not pull out early.

A week after I got back to my hometown, I met a guy who turned out to be her cousin. We got to chatting. I was horrified when he told me that it was well known in his family that the girl in Kingston had 'the clap'.

Naturally, I am very concerned. Because I had unprotected sex with her, does that mean that I am certain to get it too?

A This raises an interesting point. Most people assume that if you have sex with someone who has gonorrhoea (the clap), you will certainly get it too.

That is not quite true. There have been some experiments on the transmission of gonorrhoea, and they appear to show that it is not absolutely inevitable that a person will be infected as a result of having sex with someone who has it. However, in many cases, infection will occur.

It may seem surprising that an infected girl might not transmit the germ to a boy who has sex with her. But it could be that the germs are in a localised area inside her body, and that his penis does not come into contact with that area.

In contrast, when males have the clap, the germ is usually present in the tube that runs through the penis. So it is highly likely that they will be expelled into the female's body at or before climax.

Admittedly, it is possible for a guy to have gonorrhoea germs in some part of his body which does not come into contact with his sex partner. But that would be unusual.

Summing up, if you have sex with someone who has gonorrhoea, it is very likely - but not inevitable - that you will get it too.

However, in your particular case, there are a couple of other factors to consider.

First of all, you really don't know that this girl who is living in the Corporate Area really has had gonorrhoea. The only evidence is that bit of gossip given to you by her cousin. I wonder why he decided to tell you this? Seems odd to me. It is perfectly possible that he was just making it up.

The other factor is this: The incubation period of gonorrhoea is usually only about five days or so. In other words, one would expect symptoms by the end of that time. Sounds like your sexual encounter in Kingston was around three weeks back. And you don't say that you have had any symptoms.

So the probability is that you are OK. However, if you are fretting, see a doc and have the test for gonorrhoea.

It might also be a good idea to call the young woman in Kingston to try find out if she is OK health-wise and also to make sure that she is not pregnant as a result of this unprotected sex.

Q While I was in bed with my fiancé one evening, I got real carried away and accidentally passed a little urine on to his hand.

Could this harm him, Doc? I have always heard where pee can carry infections.

A Contrary to what many people think, urine is usually sterile. In other words, it normally contains no germs at all.

Therefore, there is no way that you have harmed your fiance as a result of this little bedtime accident.

Q Is there any medication I can take in order to reduce the odour of gas I sometimes pass?

A Unfortunately, there is no very effective medicine. Doctors used to advise eating biscuits made with charcoal, the idea being that the charcoal would absorb the gases.

However, it is doubtful these biscuits really work. But some pharmacies still stock them. And they are widely used for dogs with gas problems.

Q I am 19, and my breasts are big. From the nipple of one of them, a there is a slender projection of soft, dark tissue. I asked a doctor what it was, and he said it was a papilloma.

What is that? And is it cancer?

A Cancer is very rare in young women of 19. A papilloma is a benign (that is, harmless) growth, often caused from a minor virus infection.

Papillomas do occur on the female nipple from time to time. Usually, the best thing is to ask a doc to nip it off for you with sterile scissors.

Q My father has developed gout. Is it true that this is linked to sexual excess, as I have heard?

A No. Gout is sometimes linked to drinking too much, but not with sex. It is often familial, so there is a chance you might get it when you are older.

Q Doc, I had sex with a girl in Port Antonio three months ago, and now she has written to me saying she is pregnant, and that I am the babyfather.

I am sure that she could have been with some other boys. How can I find out whether I really am the father of the child?

A Please realise that you have absolutely no evidence that this girl has been with other guys. I suggest you contact her and find out what her menstrual dates were. If you had sex with her around two or three weeks after the start of her last menses, it is highly likely that you are indeed the father.

Nothing can be done about DNA tests until the baby is born. After childbirth, it will be possible to do a paternity test from saliva specimens or blood. That is very costly, and not always easy to arrange.

If you had sex with the young woman at the 'ideal' time of the month, you may just have to accept that you are the babyfather.

Q Doctor, I have got a lot of itching between my thighs. Is this VD?

A That is unlikely. I cannot think of any type of venereal disease which causes itching between the thighs.

In fact, this symptom is usually because of a fungal infection of the skin, which is easily treated. But you should ask a doc to take a look at you.

Email questions and comments for Doc to saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com. Also read Doctor's Advice in Outlook magazine, inside The Sunday Gleaner.