Doctor's Advice? Can I get a STI from oral sex?

Q Doc, I am a guy of 20 who has done something crazy, and I would like you to give me some good advice. Last week, I went with several friends to Kingston for the day, and we had a good time.

I guess I had a little too much alcohol because around 10 p.m., I got separated from my pals, and I found myself sitting in a bar having a drink with a real pretty girl. I realised that she was a hooker, but I told myself not to have sex with her because I was aware of the dangers of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

However, we did step outside the bar, and we found a quiet place, where she gave me oral sex. This was the first time I had ever experienced this, and I must honestly say that I enjoyed it. Then we said good night and I went off and found my friends.

But now, a few days later, I have noticed that there is always some kind of messy stuff on the inside of my pants. Also, Doc, I am finding it very painful to pass urine.

So what is going on? I assumed that I could not catch an STI from this girl because we only had the oral and not 'full' sex. Was I wrong?

A Yes, you were wrong. As I have pointed out previously in this column, young people should be aware that it is possible to transmit STIs through having oral sex. You can catch these infections without having sexual intercourse.

Now you say that this girl was a prostitute. Recent research has shown that there is quite a high incidence of gonorrhoea of the throat in these ladies of the night. That is not surprising, in view of the fact that they give so many guys oral sex.

So I am in very little doubt that as a result of the blow job that she gave you, you have contracted either gonorrhoea or possibly chlamydia. The symptoms of these two sex infections are very similar. They consist of:

A discharge from the penis;

Pain in passing urine -often described as 'like passing red-hot razor blades'.

What you must do now is see a doctor. The doctor will examine you, and should send some samples to the lab. You will then be given an antibiotic, which should cure you.

Please do not have sex with anyone until you have been cured! You are currently infectious.

It would be nice if you could let this poor girl in Kingston know that she is carrying an STI, but I do appreciate that this may not be practical.

Q I am 19, and I am being driven nearly crazy by my menses! Every month they go on so long that I am exhausted, and can scarcely study.

My mother says there is nothing I can do about this, but I am wondering if there is some medication I could take?

A There certainly is. These days, young women should not have to put up with heavy or prolonged periods. It is nearly always possible for a doctor to put things right.

Presumably you do not know this, but simply going on the Pill should cut your menses down to manageable levels. Generally speaking, it is possible to find a Pill, which will give a woman periods that only last around three to four days, and are reasonably light.

Other medications, which usually work well in reducing menstrual flow are:

Dicynene (etamsylate);

Ponstan (mefenamic acid) - which also helps period pain;

Cyklokapron (transexamic acid).

If you go and see a doctor, she or he will explain to you about these drugs.

Q I am a guy of 17, and I have noticed that the opening in my organ is on the 'under' side, and not at the end. This means that when I orgasm, the 'jet' goes downwards.

Why is this, Doc? And can anything be done about it?

A Sounds like you have a mild degree of the condition called hypospadias, in which the urinary opening is in the wrong place.

You will be able to have sex, and you should be able to have children. But I think you should see a surgeon-specialist called a urologist, and ask him if he can do an operation, which would move the opening round to the correct place.

Q Can you explain something to me, doctor? I am a virgin, age 21. So I presume that my hymen is intact. In that case, how do the menses get out? Do they somehow leak through the hymen, or what?

A The hymen, or 'virgin's veil', almost always has a hole in it. When you have a period, the blood passes through that hole.

Q Doctor, I am a male university student, and I have just been diagnosed with epididymitis. But what is that, please?

A It is an inflammation of the epididymis. The epididymis is a coiled tube which lies next to the testicle. Inflammation of it is almost always caused from germs, and these are usually acquired through sexual contact. Please follow the advice of the doc who is treating you. And do not have sex until he says it is safe to do so.

Q I am a young woman who has always enjoyed sex a lot. But now I am pregnant. Don't get me wrong, Doc: I am pleased about this!

However, what I want to know is this. Can I still continue to have intercourse with the guy I love, even though I am pregnant?

A Yes. Unless your midwife or Doc says that there is some medical contraindication, it should be OK to continue having sex.

However, when you get towards the end of the pregnancy, you will have to stop. Your doctor or midwife will advise you about when to cease.

Q I am female, age 22 and I have put on a great deal of weight recently, though I do not eat a lot. A friend has told me that it could be a thyroid problem. Is this true?

A Well, it is possible. The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck. Underactivity of the thyroid is quite common in women, and it makes them put on weight, and also feel slow and sluggish.

Please see a doctor for a check- up and a blood test. If you do have thyroid underactivity, it should be possible to treat it successfully with tablets.

Q Last month, my friend and I took out two girls in Negril. By the end of the evening, both guys had had sex with both girls.

Now one of them says she is pregnant. Is there any way to establish which of us is the father?

A I am afraid that nothing can be done until the girl has had her baby. At that time, it will be possible to carry out paternity tests to discover which of you two guys is the babyfather.

Email questions for Doc to saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com.