Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a common, curable, sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in mucus membranes of the body. Gonorrhea bacteria can grow in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) in women and men. The bacteria can also grow in the mouth, throat, and anus.

75% of all reported gonorrhea is found in younger persons aged 15 to 29. The highest rates of infection are usually found in 15- to 19-year old women and 20- to 24-year-old men.

Not all people infected with gonorrhea have symptoms.

Symptoms in Women

In women, symptoms usually start within 7 ti 21 days after infection, but are often so mild that they escape notices. Many women with gonorrhea discharge think they have a yeast infection and self-treat yeast infection medications purchased over-the-counter. Because vaginal discharge can be a sign of a number of different problems, it is best to always seek the advice of a doctor to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. When symptoms do occur, they can include the following:

• Greenish yellow or whitish discharge from the vagina
• Lower abdominal or pelvic pain
• Burning when urinating
• Conjunctivitis (red, itchy eyes)
• Bleeding between periods
• Spotting after intercourse
• Swelling of the vulva (vulvitis)
• Burning in the throat (due to oral sex)
• Swollen glands (due to oral sex)

Symptoms in Men

In men, symptoms usually appear two to fourteen days after infection. Symptoms may include:

• Greenish yellow or whitish discharge from the penis
• Burning when urinating
• Burning in the throat (due to oral sex)
• Swollen glands (due to oral sex)

Diagnosis and Treatment

Gonorrhea is diagnosed from a sample collected by a health care provider from the parts of the body likely to be infected (cervix, urethra, rectum, or throat) and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Several laboratory tests are available to diagnose gonorrhea including a Gram stain which can often be conducted in a clinic or doctor's office.

An oral or injectable antibiotic is used to cure the infection. It is important to notify anyone you have recently had sex with that you are infected. Your partner(s) should also be treated at the same time to prevent reinfection and further spread of the disease. In additon, persons being treated for gonorrhea should avoid sex until they and their sex partner(s) complete treatment and have no symptoms. It is important to take all of the prescribed antibiotics, even if symptoms disappear and never take someone else's medication to treat your illness. By doing so, you may make the infection more difficult to treat. Gonorrhea and chlamydia, another common STD, often occur together, so you may be tested and treated for both.

Possible Complications

Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent problems in both women and men. In women, if left untreated, gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, (PID) which can lead to damage of the fallopian tubes and an inability to have children. Untreated chlamydia infection can also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy (when the fertilized egg implants and develops outside the uterus.)

Gonorrhea in a pregnant woman can cause premature delivery or spontaneous abortion. The infected mother may give the infection to her infant as the baby passes through the birth canal during delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby. Treatment of gonorrhea as soon as it is detected in pregnant women will lessen the risk of these complications.

Gonorrhea may also be spread by contact with infected bodily fluids, so that a mother could pass on the infection to her newborn during childbirth or to her baby through household contact.

In men, gonorrhea can cause epididymitis, a painful condition of the testicle that can sometimes lead to infertility if left untreated. Without prompt treatment, gonorrhea can also affect the prostaet and can lead to scarring inside the urethra, making urination difficult.

Gonorrhea can become life-threatening if it spreads to the blood or joints. Also, those with gonorrhea can more easily contract HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Prevention

Safe sexual practices will reduce your risk of infection. These include limiting the number of sex partners and correct use of condoms every time you have sex. Any genital symptoms such as discharge or burning during urination or an unusual sore or rash should be a signal to stop having sex and to consult a doctor immediately. If you are told you have gonorrhea or any other STD and receive treatment, you should notify all of your recent sex partners so they can receive treatment.

Additional information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.