V. D. - Nothing To Clap About

V.D. – Nothing to Clap About

Gonorrhea is number two. Only the common cold is more common. Last year over two million North Americans caught the clap. In Washtenaw County, your chances of getting it are about 1 in 30 if you’re under 25. So what, you might be asking. Is it serious? How can I tell if I’ve got it? Read on!

The germ that causes gonorrhea is called a gonococcus, or G.C. for short. G.C. is killed by dryness, cold, and light. It needs a hot, wet, dark home. The cervix of the vagina, rectum, mouth and inside of the penis are perfect. G.C. can’t penetrate human skin. It must pass directly from one warm place to another. Therefore, it is mainly passed from one person to another sexually.

Once inside, G.C. begins to grow and spread to other parts of the body. In men, the germs travel up the urethra, the hole in the center of the penis. When urine passes over the infected area, it hurts. The infection may also cause a discharge, so men usually become painfully aware of their infection within a few days of the time they catch it. However, not all men notice discharge or pain. The Army tested a large group of men and found that out of every 100 with gonorrhea, 15 to 20 had no symptoms at all. Rectal gonorrhea usually causes no symptoms either.

Well, so far gonorrhea doesn’t sound so bad. But given a few months, it can start to cause some trouble. G.C. grows very well on menstrual blood, so during a woman’s period it can spread very fast from the vagina along the walls of the uterus to the Fallopian tubes. These are the tubes which connect the ovaries with the womb. While the body is fighting the gonorrhea germs, scars form. These can partly or completely close off the tubes. Two possible results are sterility and “ectopic pregnancy.” (Ectopic pregnancy means that a fertilized egg starts growing outside the womb, in this case in the tube. Since the tube is small, it must stretch as the baby begins to grow. After two or three months, the tube will probably burst, which causes bleeding and pain in the abdomen.) Fortunately, not everyone who has gonorrhea for several months or longer develops these problems. A more common problem in women with untreated gonorrhea is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (P.I.D.). Attacks of P.I.D. usually come a few days after the period. Suddenly you feel wretchedly sick – headache, fever, vomiting, and terrible abdominal pain. P.I.D. can be less severe, so don’t ignore a low fever and constant aching pain in the abdomen, especially if it gets worse after a period. Because of these serious possibilities, it is a good idea for women who have many lovers to ask for a gonorrhea culture several times a year.

What about the 20% of men who don’t notice any pain or discharge? Some men develop an infection of the tube that leads from the penis to the testicles. From there G.C. infects the epididymis, a coiled tube running down the back of the testicle. If scar tissue forms, it may block sperm from getting out. If the man is treated soon, scars may block only one side. If the infection keeps spreading, he may become sterile. Gonorrhea is a sexist disease – the people who are most likely to go a long time without knowing they have it are women and gay men. One out of 100 people who have gonorrhea for over a month develops “blood poisoning,” or bacteria in the blood stream. From the blood, gonorrhea can spread all over the body, including joints and skin. The person will have fever, chills, pain in joints, and/or a skin rash. In a few days, these symptoms go away, but a week or two later they’re back again.

Anyone who thinks they may have gonorrhea or any of these complications should see a doctor right away – today, or tomorrow if you’re reading this at night. Anyone who wants to be on the safe side should see a doctor to ask for a culture. Gonorrhea can usually be cured with antibiotics. (Because penicillin resistance is increasing, though, we may find ourselves with an uncontrollable gonorrhea epidemic in a few years.) The University of Michigan Health Service is a good place for students to go, although you may want to get some advice on which doctors to see. Eastern’s Health Service leaves a lot to be desired. The Free People’s Clinic prefers to treat people who have no other place to go.

There is lots more to know about gonorrhea, and other kinds of V.D. Even if you have your own doctor, the Free Clinic will be glad to give you a copy of the V.D. handbook, which is full of useful information about many common diseases like urinary tract infections and vaginal infections. The V.D. counselors can fill you in on details I left out of this short article, and answer questions or clarify points this article may have raised in your mind.

Barbara Meyer