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genital types of candidiasis, scabies, herpes and warts. Other complaints
usually acquired sexually, such as non-gonococcal urethritis
and trichomonal infection have recently been taking progressively
more of the venereologist's time but, fortunately, although in some
instances these can produce serious complications, in the main
they do not present the difficulties associated with syphilis and
gonorrhoea.
It is a fact that venereal disease is being disseminated at a much
faster rate than the accumulation of associated medical knowledge
but epidemiological data now being assembled by researchers in
America is beginning to link genital herpes, a sexually transmitted
virus, with cervical cancer. So far, the research team has studied
300 women with genital herpes but no cancer and their investigations
have already shown that these women are six times more
liable to cervical cancer than women not infected venereally.
These postulations have been strengthened by results from another
source which shows that of 110 women with cancerous or precancerous
changes in the cervix, 98% had a previous history of
genital herpes. If such an association is established it will confirm
the statistical evidence that cervical cancer is rare in nuns and
virgins but common among prostitutes and promiscuous women
and justify the rationale of sexual continence.
Venereal disease can have catastrophic effects upon health,
happiness and family life. Indeed, the Matrimonial Causes Act of
1950 gives undisclosed communicable venereal disease at time of
marriage as grounds for rendering such a marriage invalid.
In common with many other nations we are, today, witnessing
a number of demographical changes and in a socio-economic
environment where previously closed sexual circles are being
overtly broken, where there is increased and precocious promiscuity
together with an unacceptable level of ignorance of the effects
of venereal disease, it is surprising to find that, statistically,
syphilis is declining. The national rate of 3.42 per 100,000 population,
a reduction of 2.6% from the previous year, shows syphilis
to be regressing, an improvement extending to both sexes. This
diminution can be partly accounted for by the fact that treponema
pallida is extremely sensitive to penicillin and the present widespread
use of this antibiotic has undoubtedly resulted in the cure
of many early but undetected cases of syphilis. However, because
of penicillin's immuno-suppressive effects no immunity is conferred
by the attack and re-infection is becoming commonplace.
Gonorrhoea, unfortunately, remains out of control, current
statistics disclosing a marked increase of almost 7% to a rate of
115.72 per 100,000 with females registering an advance of 14.5%
and males 3.8%. One important aspect of this problem is that