This Common STI Is Becoming Untreatable Because Of Unsafe Oral Sex
10 July 2017, 14:34 | Updated: 19 November 2018, 14:58
It's bad news for everyone.
Safe sex practices are not only important for your own personal health and safety, they're also important because of what we know about the spread of sexual transmitted infections. The World Health Organization is now warning that unsafe oral sex practices have lead to a rise in antibiotic-resistant strains of Gonorrhea.
According to a report from The World Health Organization, "data from 77 countries show that antibiotic resistance is making gonorrhea – a common sexually-transmitted infection – much harder, and sometimes impossible, to treat."
Why is this a big deal?
Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, especially in the 15-24 age group. It can be spread through penetrative sex (vaginal and anal), as well as oral sex. As is the case with most STIs, you can lower your risk of contracting Gonorrhea if you use a condom whenever you have sex.
The treatment for Gonorrhea usually involves a round of antibiotics, but health experts are now warning that resistant strains are making the infection harder to treat. If untreated, Gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease as well as infertility in women.
via iStock
Not too long ago, we covered the startling revelation that 60% of teen girls have used the pull out method in lieu of condoms. This combined with the news that some strains of Gonorrhea are becoming unresponsive to treatment, means that safe oral and penetrative sex practices are becoming increasingly vital.
How can you protect yourself against this "super Gonorrhea"?
Experts advise that sexually active people should get tested whenever they have a new partner. In addition to that, you can make yourself more aware of your sexual health by getting tested at least once a year.
Consistent condom use (even during oral sex) is also key. You should be paying close attention to your body and seek treatment if you know something seems irregular (unusual discharge, paintful urination, bleeding between periods etc).
The Word Health Organization advises that "Gonorrhea can be prevented through safer sexual behaviour, in particular consistent and correct condom use. Information, education, and communication can promote and enable safer sex practices, improve people’s ability to recognize the symptoms of gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted infections, and increase the likelihood they will seek care."
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