Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium (shaped like a
coffee bean) that worms its way through moist genital passageways and
urinary systems. It can infect the cervix, urethra, and anus.
Common Symptoms
Women:
More than 50% SHOW NO SYMPTOMS
Vaginal discharge Abnormal periods Vaginal bleeding between periods Pain while urinating or during intercourse Cramps and abdominal pain
Men:
SOME MEN HAVE NO SYMPTOMS
Pus-like discharge from penis Pain while urinating or having a bowel movement Need to urinate frequently
Gonorrhea is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection
in the United States with one million cases each year. Symptoms occur
between two days and three weeks after transmission, if at all. Most
women and some men never show any symptoms. Gonorrhea can be transmitted
even if there are no symptoms.
How Is It Transmitted?
Gonorrhea is transmitted by having oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone
who is infected. Another way of infection is by rubbing or touching
the eye after coming in contact with gonorrhea. It can also be passed
from a mother to a child during childbirth, and that is why all children
receive antibiotic eye drops when they are first born.
Prevention
Condoms help prevent infection during vaginal and anal intercourse.
For prevention during oral sex, condoms can be used on a man and either
dental dams, cut medical gloves (with thumb as tongue condom), or a
condom cut in half lengthwise can be used on a woman.
Testing
For both women and men, testing can be done by either using a urine
sample or a culture of genital discharge, but the culture is much more
reliable. Often, if there are no symptoms, tests can be inaccurate,
so it is beneficial to be tested using both methods, or by multiple
types of tests if you get mixed results.
What May Happen If You Don't Get Treated
Risk of transmitting gonorrhea to sexual partners. Damage to reproductive organs. Infertility for men and women. A pregnant mother with gonorrhea risks premature labor, stillbirth,
and infecting her child during childbirth. In a woman, can cause PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), which leads
to an increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy. Heart problems, arthritis, and blindness.
Treatable?
Yes. With antibiotics, gonorrhea can be cured.
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