Q I am a girl who has been having some bladder problems, which seem to be connected with sex. I surfed the Net for articles, which suggested that my symptoms are due to urinary tract infection.

The symptoms I have had are blood in the urine and heaviness in my side.

However, the symptoms went away a little last week, so I went ahead and had sex with my boyfriend. But now I am worried because it has occurred to me that I might have given him the infection.

Also, I am afraid that this infection will damage my kidneys. I have drunk lots of cranberry juice and water, which seem to have eased the urge to urinate.

Is what I have had the same thing as cystitis? And can it be transmitted sexually to a boy?

A Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are extremely common in young women from the time they first start having sex.

They are mainly caused from germs getting into the girl's urinary tube (urethra), and then enter her bladder, where they cause inflammation of the bladder, or cystitis.

Where do these germs come from? They mainly come from the girl's buttocks. Unfortunately, in women, the anus is only a few inches away from the opening of the urethra.

Spread of germs

So it is easy for bowel germs to make their way across those few inches, and enter the urethra. There are two things which commonly carry those germs from the anus to the urethral opening:

Using toilet paper to wipe FORWARDS instead of BACKWARDS.

Indulging in the kind of sex play in which the man's fingers stray near to the girl's anus.

In fact, many young guys are so clumsy or inexperienced in bed that their fingertips regularly drift into the wrong zone. When those contaminated fingers move towards the vagina, they transfer bowel germs.

Within a few days, the poor girl shows the symptoms of an infection in her urine.

The classic symptoms of a urinary

infection are:

Pain while passing urine.

Having to keep rushing to the

toilet to pass urine.

Often, blood in the urine.

Sometimes feverish.

Now you seem to have most of these symptoms, so I think it is real likely that you do indeed have a UTI. And it needs treatment.

Small specimen

Fortunately, I see from your email that you have already made an appointment to consult a doc. Make sure that you take a small specimen of your urine with you for her to test. Place it in a very clean glass container. If possible, collect the specimen when you get up that morning.

By testing the urine, the doc will be able to tell whether you definitely have a urinary tract infection or not. If possible, she will send it to a lab for special tests to identify exactly which germs are causing it.

She will probably give you some medication, which is likely to contain one of the antibiotics used against common urinary infections. That should set you right in a few days.

Now you mention that you are fretting about the possibility that this infection could 'damage the kidneys'. Yes, that is possible. When there is infection in the bladder, it can sometimes spread to the kidneys.

That can be really nasty! Kidney infection causes pain in the back, a high fever and often severe shivering attacks. I am hoping that your mention of a 'heaviness in the side' does not mean that you already have germs in your kidney.

It's important that you keep that appointment with the doc. If you are treated promptly, it's unlikely that you will get a kidney infection. And even if you DO, the doctor will soon cure it.

Almost impossible

It is almost impossible that you could have transmitted the infection to your boyfriend during sexual intercourse.

Boys do not often get urine infections, mainly because the urinary pipe in a boy is much longer than it is in girls - so germs have much farther to travel. Also, the urinary opening in males is far from the anus.

Q I am a young guy who is feeling pain in my groin whenever I stand for long periods. Why?

A I am sure this isn't serious, but it's possible you have a minor problem with your back, which is pressuring the nerves that lead down to the groin.

See a doctor.

Q I am 18 and I have a new boyfriend who wants to have sex at least three times a day. None of my friends have boyfriends who want intercourse that often.

Is there something wrong with him?

A Well, this is generally just an indication that a young man has a lot of testosterone, the male sex hormone. However, that does NOT mean that he is sick - just highly sexed.

Couples in your age group tend to have sex about two to three times for the week, but variations are significant. Make sure you use contraception.

Q Doctor, I am a guy who masturbates about twice a week. A friend told me that medical researchers have found that this would make me more liable to cancer of the prostate.

Is that true?

A No, it isn't. There has been some research on this subject, and the surprising thing is that males who have masturbated are LESS likely to get cancer of the prostate.

Quit fretting.

Q I have a 'clicking' noise in my wrists whenever time I play cricket. Does this mean I have arthritis, or am going to get it?

A No. Many young men, and some young women, have 'clicks' in the wrist area when they take exercise. But these noises are usually just caused by the movement of tendons, which are strong 'cords' attached to your muscles.

The sounds are nothing to be alarmed about, and do not indicate arthritis.

Q I am a 19-year-old man. I enjoy sex, but I only last for three minutes before I discharge. My girlfriend doesn't mind, but I do.

Is this premature ejaculation?

A Yes, it is clear that you have 'PE' mildly, but it can be treated. I suggest you begin by typing the words 'premature' and 'ejaculation' into Google. Then you will be able to see what the various treatment options are. I wish you well.

Want advice from Doc? Send your questions by email to editor@gleanerjm.com, fax 922-6223, Attention: Doctor's Advice, or post to Doctor's Advice, The Gleaner Company, 7 North Street, Kingston.