Monique Rainford

Sexual intercourse can be one of the most pleasurable human activities and one of the most dangerous. Intercourse can result in the transmission of many infections, the most serious being HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). However, there are a number of other infections that if left untreated can result in significant health problems.

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are common sexually-transmitted bacterial infections. They can be spread through vaginal, oral or anal sex and can also infect babies during a normal vaginal delivery.

Chlyamydia infection

Chlamydia is caused by a bacterium called C. trachomatis. The reported rate of chlamydia infection in the United States has been increasing over the past 15 years. Research done in Jamaica also shows a very high prevalence of this infection. In Jamaica, women were at higher risk for the infection if they used non-barrier methods of birth control (methods other than condoms), if they had Trichomonas infection or cervical ectopy (a condition in which the more delicate cells of the cervix, the neck of the womb, are exposed).

In the United States, teenagers and women with many sex partners were found to be at higher risk of infection. However, research done in Jamaica showed that a woman's age or her number of sex partners did not put her at a higher risk.

About 75 per cent of women with this infection have no symptoms, but it can still cause damage to her female organs. If she has symptoms, she may have an abnormal vaginal discharge or burning when she urinates. If the infection spreads to her other female organs she may feel pain in her lower abdomen and lower back, fever, pain with intercourse and bleeding between her periods.

The symptoms usually occur one to three weeks after the infection. About half of men infected have symptoms which include a discharge from the penis, or burning when he urinates.

The best way for a woman to discover if she has this infection is to do a screening test. This test consists of taking a swab from the cervix. In the U.S. it is recommended that sexually-active women, up to age 25, be tested yearly and an older woman should be tested if she has more than one sexual partner at the same time or if she has a new partner.

Treat with antibiotics

If a woman tests positive, she can easily be treated with antibiotics. She should also have her most recent sexual partner and all her partners, within the two months before testing, treated.

Gonorrhoea infection

Gonorrhoea infection is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. If an infected man has sex with a woman she has a 50 per cent chance of getting gonorrhoea. Between 30 and 50 per cent of women with the disease have no symptoms but only five to 10 per cent of the men have no symptoms. Even without symptoms, the infection can be passed on for months.

Symptoms which are similar to those with chlamydia usually start two to seven days after infection. Gonorrhoea can be tested and treated in a similar manner to chlamydia.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Both chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. This is an infection of the female organs including the womb and the tubes (fallopian tubes). Women who have had PID sometimes develop 'blocked tubes' and have difficulty getting pregnant. Some also develop chronic pelvic pain which is pain in their lower abdominal region that lasts for at least six months.

While not a 100 per cent effective, condom use can reduce the risk of transmission of these infections. Regular testing and open and honest discussion can also go a far way in healthier sex.

Dr. Monique Rainford is a consulting obstetrician and gynaecologist; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.