The bacteria Neisseri gonorrhoeae is the source of the STI known as gonorrhea. It is one of the earliest STIs that is currently understood, and medical literature has long discussed it. However, despite its lengthy history, the origins of its slang moniker, "the clap," are a little murky.
The origin of the term "the clap" for gonorrhea is the subject of several theories. It's possible that the term comes from the "brothel"-sounding French word "clapier." According to this interpretation, the phrase originally referred to any sexually transmitted illness acquired at a brothel. The word "clap" is also said to have its origins in the Middle English verb "clappen," which means "to beat." According to this explanation, the phrase was used to describe how the germs "pounded" against the urethral walls.
The third hypothesis is that "the clap" alludes to the old "strain and strain" method of physical therapy used to treat gonorrhea. This treatment comprised striking the patient's back and buttocks with a leather strap or "clapper" as they strained against a resistance, such as a bedsheet. This procedure was thought to aid in the body's removal of the microorganisms. Despite the ambiguous history of the phrase, "the clap" has been and is still used to describe gonorrhea. It is crucial to remember that the term is informal and somewhat disparaging, and that it is typically more suitable to refer to this infection using the correct medical term, "gonorrhea."
A number of health issues, such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and disseminated gonococcal infection, can be brought on by the dangerous and potentially fatal STI known as gonorrhea. It can be transferred even if there are no symptoms and spreads through sexual contact, including oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Despite the ambiguous history of the phrase, "the clap" has been and is still used to describe gonorrhea. It is crucial to remember that the term is informal and somewhat disparaging, and that it is typically more suitable to refer to this infection using the correct medical term, "gonorrhea." A number of health issues, such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and disseminated gonococcal infection, can be brought on by the dangerous and potentially fatal STI known as gonorrhea. It can be transferred even if there are no symptoms and spreads through sexual contact, including oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Visit the link here to review our at-home STD testing solution.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Gonorrhea. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/index.html
- World Health Organization. (2019). Gonorrhoea. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/gonorrhoea
- Sexually Transmitted Infections. (2003). The history of gonorrhoea. Retrieved from https://sti.bmj.com/content/79/4/230
- Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT. (n.d.). The history of STIs. Retrieved from https://www.shfpact.org.au/learn/sti-basics/history-stis
