Dr Phil: Genital infections

Hi, it’s Dr Phil here again: today we’re going to talk about genital infections. They used to be called sexually transmitted diseases, then we called them sexually transmitted infections to try to make them slightly less scary and now we call them sexually shared infections. Which gets the nice point across that if you share pleasure, you also have to share treatment.

The trouble is lots of people don’t know when they’ve picked up an infection because the commonest symptoms of genital infections are no symptoms at all, particularly if you’re a woman. As very, very, very, very few people pass on sexually transmitted infections deliberately, the worst thing you can do is to blame anyone. As my consultant used to say, if you haven’t picked up chlamydia by the age of 30, you haven’t been trying hard enough.

Occasionally of course you do get symptoms: any sort of discharge, any sort of redness, any sort of soreness, if a big, pussy green blob appears at the end of your penis for no apparent reason, you need to get that sorted out fairly quickly: nearly all sexually transmitted infections can be cured. You’re not alone, loads of people have them; loads of people have chlamydia, possibly 1 in 10 sexually active people under the age of 25. I did a conference once of sexual health consultants (these are the experts you see in the sexual health clinic): a quarter of us had had a sexually transmitted infection at some stage in our life. I personally, Dr Phil, had gonorrhoea when I was a medical student: in my defence it was probably before the days of HIV so not many people wore condoms and you were so amazed that somebody would have sex with you if you had ginger hair and freckles that you just sort of had a go. I woke up a few days later, rivers of puss coming through my boxer shorts, and even I managed to realise there was something not quite right about that. So I popped down the local clinic, down the Westminster clinic, and the consultant was really excited to see me. He took a swab, he rushed off, he stuck it under the microscope and he said ‘come and have a look at this, Dr Phil’. Gram-negative intracellular diplococci: gonorrhoea under the microscope. He was very excited, I was less so (I wish I’d worn a condom), but he then cheered me up by telling me stories of all the famous people he’d treated: actresses, movie stars, politicians, even clergymen.

So, it happens to everyone, the worst thing you can do is deny it. If you don’t know what your status is and you’d like a sexual MOT, pop down to your local clinic (their number is in the Yellow Pages). If you’d like some excellent advice I would recommend the embarrassingproblems.com website: tackle it and move on. If you want some excellent advice and you want a laugh at the same time I’d recommend Sex, Sleep or Scrabble?, available at all major outlets.

 

Written by: Dr Phil Hammond
Edited by: Dr Phil Hammond
Last updated: Friday, August 13th 2010

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Comments on this article

Posted by Okinawa on 09/03/2012 at 02:19

Dear Dr, I happened to mess with a beatiful lady and a week later l was feeling some itching just below the tip of my penis inside the urethra. Afew days later l saw some elements of pus on my pant and as l squeezed a bit had s really puss came out. I went to the clinic and the sample of urine was tested and the doctor subscirbed me for an injection for three days, consecutively, immediately after the injection l have to take some more tablets for five days. Despite all that, and my close follow, every time l squeeze the thing the puss comes out, now, does it mean that l took the wrong subcription or the infection ends slowly that much, plz advice Doctor. Thanks

Posted by Owen on 20/09/2011 at 07:05

Dr. Phil plz what medication can i have, since i do have protected sex, but one day the condom burst and i went ahead drilling for some minutes and now, every morning and some times in the day i notice a whitish creamy drop or discharge at the tip of my penis is a week today and is still appearing. Plz i need a help.

Posted by Jaypee on 18/09/2011 at 03:10

Hi A thick yellow discgarge is coming from my penis after i had sex few days back I did took Doxycycline 100 mg 2 times a day for 7 days and ciprof loxaxin 500mg for 3 days but still have same problem please suggest what should i do

Posted by Optional on 05/05/2011 at 11:13

I have been diagnosed with genital herpes type 1. My dr has give me medication which seemed to work the first time and got rid of the blister. However I now have small white pimples at the top of my vulva which seems to be spreading. The area is very irritated and there are split in other parts of the skin. The medication doesn't seem to help with this. I've been back to the dr but they can't seem to work out what it is.

Posted by Optional on 13/04/2011 at 07:08

Hi, i have a vein on the rim, right hand edge of my penis tip and it curves from the shaft over the rim in like a c shape, its only about 4-5 mm in leght. noticed it a few months ago. Anyway recently when i get up in morning it is more visible and is a little raised almost like a tiny blister. although it has never popped or anything no open sore. i have no idea what it is please help. thanku

Posted by kylex on 16/03/2011 at 09:40

im so happy that i found out more about this. i was one of the people who would look at you funny knowing that you have an infection but now im supportive.

Posted by Optional on 11/01/2011 at 05:07

i have white small bumps on my testicals but are only noticable when i squeeze my testicals. they look similer to whiteheads. what are they?

Posted by Optional on 12/12/2010 at 03:23

I have read that chlamydia can be transmitted through oral sex. Is that correct or dies it have to be penetrating sex? Does a man have to ejaculate to pass the infection?

Posted by Dave on 08/11/2010 at 10:45

Am in stable relationship. No extra activities on either side. Have rash with tint yellow heads on either side of groin area/inner thigh spreading onto tops of thigh.

Posted by Optional on 02/10/2010 at 08:18

can anyone help me with this...have have been for sti tests a few times , but just found two little in my vulva went to the doc she said genital worts, i haven't slept with anyone in 5 months never suffered from them b4 , she gave me some cream to put on them one day later i'm really itchy and so so so sore i have a look lots and lots of tiny white raised lumps every thing seems a bit swollen , going o the clinic on monday find out whats going on...any insite would be great

Posted by gill on 30/07/2010 at 12:45

Hi, how are you ? Am very fine. I normally develop Watery Blisters type of Sores on the fore skin of my Penis after using a Condom or it just occurs once in a month. Doc, what type of Medicine can I use? Best regards.

Posted by Optional on 02/07/2010 at 02:30

I self diagnosed cystitus but have found urethra is swollen and protruding and visible over the counter remedy not working

Posted by Optional on 26/06/2010 at 04:57

hi, i have never had sex before. I recently developed an itch in my genitals and thought i had thrush. i have been washing regularly and didnt wanna use any creams unless necessary. i didnt go to my doctor because it is too embarassing. the itchiness lasted for 3 days and is now left in the area around my clitoris. i recently saw a white film surrounding the clitoris. the itch is alleviated by pressure in the clitoris. What could this be?

Posted by Optional on 16/06/2010 at 04:12

how to cure this.

Posted by Optional on 24/05/2010 at 07:05

I've only just started having sex with my girlfriend. We were both virgins until we slept together. Once we accidentally had unprotected sex (caught up in the moment and all that). The tip of my penis is slightly larger with the foreskin pushed back. It now aches when I have an erection and seems quite sensitive. We have not done anything since just in case. What could be the problem?