TresSugar

3 Things to Know About the Latest Gonorrhea Superbug

Annie Scudder — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:00:34 PDT

If the prospect of gonorrhea already worries you, you better prepare for a world with a gonorrhea superbug. A doctor in Japan has discovered a strain of the STI that is not treatable with any of the antibiotics currently used to treat gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea is one of the most common STIs; 340 million people contract it each year, and in the US at least 700,000 do. And while gonorrhea can cause painful sex, swollen testicles, pain while urinating, and infertility in women, it's currently treatable. That may soon change if this new drug-resistant strain spreads. Here are three things to know about this worrisome development.

The new strain is called H041 and it's resistant to every known antibiotic.
It was discovered in Japan. Gonorrhea has become more resistant over time, leaving only one class of antibiotics that will treat it. In the past, Japan has been the first place where new resistances are detected before spreading across the world. Typically it can be 10 to 20 years before a new resistance spreads internationally, but this superbug might move more swiftly since it's completely drug-resistant. Right now in the US, a quarter of gonorrhea strains are resistant to common antibiotics, but they can still be treated with newer drugs.
Doctors may use untested medicine to treat it. Doctors are urgently working to develop new drugs, but if someone contracts H041 before they can, untested medicine will be the only treatment option. In the meantime, using a combination of two different types of antibiotics to treat nonsuperbug infections will help limit the creation of an even greater resistance.

Two Surprising STDs on the Rise

Colleen Barrett — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:45:16 PST

Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control announced two of the three STDs it tracks are on the rise. While gonorrhea continues its steady decline to all-time lows, dropping another 10 percent last year, chlamydia and syphilis rates are ticking up.

Chlamydia, which is rampant among young people but curable with antibiotics, surprises me far less than syphilis, which I thought was contained to Charles Dickens's novels and the crazy lady in the attic of Jane Eyre. But, actually, it rose 39 percent since 2006.

Unfortunately, STDs travel in subgroups as different races, ages, and sexual orientations are at different risks. While gonorrhea is on the decline among the whole population, the rate among blacks is 20 times higher than whites and almost 10 times higher than Hispanics. Young black women, 15 to 24, are most affected by chlamydia, while men who have sex with men account for nearly two-thirds of syphilis cases.

Whether you're in a high-risk group or not, it seems like concern about STDs has been on the decline for the last decade, even as people are more likely to get an STD from an ex or friend with benefits. Would you say you're more worried or less?

Friendly Reminder to Practice Safe-Sex: STD Becoming Superbug

TresSugar — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:20:09 PDT

If you've ever neglected your responsibility to practice safe-sex, you might take solace in knowing that most STDs are curable. While the words gonorrhea and chlamydia sound frightening, so long as you get tested regularly and take a round of antibiotics, you can hopefully get rid of it. This somewhat lazy logic might not work for much longer. Gonorrhea is growing more drug resistant and becoming an incurable superbug. This cannot be good.

Experts believe that 700,000 people come down with gonorrhea each year. When not treated, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other health complications. And if it can't be treated at all, these serious consequences could become inevitable.

So what's the lesson? Perhaps we should listen to Bristol Palin, who says: "pause before you play." In other words, use condoms and don't be afraid to talk to potential partners about their sexual health.

Dear Quiz: How Well Do You Know Yeast Infections?

DearSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:00:00 PDT

If you're a woman, chances are you've had to endure at least one horribly uncomfortable yeast infection in your lifetime. If you hadn't heard yet, there may be a yeast infection vaccine in our future which could help to prevent future infections, but until then, take this little quiz to see what you know about yeast infections, their causes, and how they relate to sex.

Source

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Gonorrhea of the Throat?

DearSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:00 PDT

I don't know how many women I've talked to that say they'll engage in oral sex with a guy no problem, but if they're going to have sex, they make him get tested first. Um, hello?! For all those ladies out there with that mindset, I have four words for you - Gonorrhea of the Throat. Remember that oral sex still allows secretions to be passed from one partner to another, and since some people with STIs such as gonorrhea don't show symptoms until the condition has progressed, they can unknowingly pass it on. Now can you see why I'm so pushy about advising that you and your partner get tested before any intimacy occurs?

I know gonorrhea of the throat sounds utterly painful, but symptoms only include a sore throat, and some people experience no symptoms at all, although people with this condition often have signs of regular gonorrhea as well. To diagnosis this STI, a doctor will take samples of secretions from the infected areas and luckily, all types of gonorrhea can be treated with a healthy dose of antibiotics.

Seriously ladies, if this doesn't make you request that a new partner get tested, I don't know what will. Any type of intimacy where you have the possibility of being exposed to another person's blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breast milk should only occur if you know your partner is STI free.

Dear's Advice: If getting tested before oral sex isn't happening, you can still protect yourself by having the man wear a condom, or a woman place a dental dam over her lady business. I know that doesn't sound very sexy, but it's better than finding out you have gonorrhea of the throat!

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Genital Herpes 101

DearSugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:00:00 PDT

A couple days ago I posted Handle This: He Has Herpes and some of your comments let me know that we could all use a refresher course on this STI.

Genital herpes is highly contagious, and is passed on through sexual contact. It's caused by a strain of herpes simplex virus (HSV), which enters your body through small cuts in your skin or mucous membranes, and then causes outbreaks of painful sores on your privates.

You should know that a person can pass herpes on to someone else even if they have no visible sores. Although there is no cure for genital herpes, the outbreaks can be controlled with medication, so a person with herpes can still be in a relationship and have sex (with protection, of course), without passing it on to his or her partner.

Want to learn more about how this STI is tested and treated? Then

Oral Sex Doesn't Equal Safe Sex

DearSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:00:00 PST

I hate to bring up this not-so-fun topic, but I'm concerned. Many of my friends have dated guys that they wouldn't have sex because they were worried about STIs, but they didn't seem the least bit worried about having oral sex. When your mouth has contact with someone else's business, you can very well get a whole plethora of STIs - the problem is that many of these sexually transmitted infections are asymptomatic, which means you can't tell if someone is infected just by looking at them. That also means an infected person may not realize they even have an STI so they let their partner perform oral sex on them while unknowingly and accidentally passing the infection on to them.

Which STIs can be passed on through oral sex? To find out

read more. Gonorrhea: I know this is gross, but if you perform oral sex on an infected person, you can get gonorrhea of the throat. Chlamydia: This can also infect the throat in the same way. Genital Herpes: This STI is passed by skin-to-skin contact with a developing or existing sore. Unfortunately, even when there are no sores present, an infected person can still pass it on to their partner. Genital Warts (HPV): This can be passed on when an uninfected person touches infected skin on their partner's genitals. So you don't even have to be having vaginal or oral sex in order to get HPV from someone else. Syphilis: If a person performs oral sex on someone who's infected, and they come in contact with an open sore or a skin rash, they can get syphilis, too. Since lesions can appear on the genitals and on the lips and mouth, that means you can even get it from kissing an infected person. HIV: This potentially deadly STI can be passed on through blood (including menstrual fluid), semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk. So if a person performs oral pleasure on an infected person, and if they have a cut or sore in their mouth or on their gums, then they can contract HIV, too. I know this is all very scary information, but knowing the facts will help keep you safe. Before becoming sexually active, you and your partner should get tested. It'll show that you respect one another, that you're responsible, and your sense of relief will make it all worth while when you do share that kind of intimacy. Dear's Advice: If you are planning on having oral sex even though you're not sure about your partner's STI history, using male and female condoms and dental dams can reduce your risk tremendously. Source

You Gotta Know About Gonorrhea

DearSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:00:00 PST

OK folks, it's time for America's favorite subject - gonorrhea. Well, maybe it's not your favorite, or even on your list of 100 favorite topics to discuss, but it's definitely something everyone should know about. Take this quiz to test what you know about this STI.

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STI Facts

DearSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:40:24 PDT

If you are sexually active, it's a sad fact that we need to watch out for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

Knowledge is prevention, so take this quiz to test your understanding of STIs.

Take the Quiz

STIs Explained: Gonorrhea

FitSugar — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:15:00 PDT

Warm weather has arrived and since Spring Fever is in the air, I thought I'd take the time to talk about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Fun stuff, I know.

STI stands for "sexually transmitted infection." The reason this term is used instead of STDs (sexually transmitted disease) is because the word "infection" is more accurate since many of these are actually curable (except for Genital Herpes, Genital Warts, and HIV). Also, the word "infection" carries less of a negative social stigma than the word "disease."

STIs like Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are 100% avoidable. Abstaining from sex altogether is the surest way to keep yourself STI-free, but since that's not realistic, definitely have you and your partner get tested before you have sex.

Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus, so being in a mutually monogamous relationship with someone you know is uninfected is also a great way to keep yourself safe. When latex or polyurethane condoms are used consistently and correctly, that can also reduce the risk of transmitting gonorrhea.

Make sure to see your gynecologist annually to get tested, because if left untreated, gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or arthritis.

Want to know about Gonorrhea? Then

STI	Symptoms	How do you test for it?	Treatment
Gonorrhea (The #2 STI in the U.S.)	Frequently asymptomatic (no symptoms) Discharge from vagina, penis, or rectum Burning or itching during urination Sore throat	Samples of the infected fluid or urine must be taken	Since gonorrhea is a bacterial infection, several antibiotics can successfully cure it. However, drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea are increasing in many areas of the world, including the United States.

Source

Symptoms	Small, painful blisters or open sores. After they ooze, they'll scab and then heal within one to three weeks. For women, sores may appear in the vagina, on the outside genital area, cervix, anus, or rear end. For men, sores may appear on the penis, scrotum, rear end, anus, thighs, or inside the urethra. Along with an outbreak of sores, a person may have flu-like symptoms including headache, muscle aches, and fever. Many people have no symptoms at all, or they'll have one bad outbreak of sores and then never experience another. Others can experience outbreaks up to 40 years after they first contract herpes.
How do you test for it?	A blood test can detect a herpes infection. If you have present sores, your doctor can take a fluid or tissue sample and test that, too.
Complications	Herpes will not cause death, but it can increase your risk of contracting other STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or HIV. A pregnant woman with sores can pass genital herpes on to her baby during delivery, which could cause brain damage, blindness, or death to the newborn. In this case, a C-section is usually performed.
Treatment	There is no cure, but oral, antiviral medications taken including Zovirax, Famvir, and Valtrex can help heal sores faster and prevent recurrent outbreaks. If taken every day, these meds may also help reduce your risk of passing it on to anyone else. If you have herpes, wait until all sores are healed before resuming sexual activity. Always use a condom to prevent passing it on to your partner, since this virus can be spread even when no symptoms of herpes are present.