Gonorrhea explained
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection disease. This disease is passed from one person to another during sexual activity (vaginal, oral, or anal sex). Gonorrhea caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can also be passed from a mother to her baby during birth. According the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 600,000 new cases of gonorrhea occur annually in the United States.
Causes of Gonorrhea:
- The infection is transmitted from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal sexual relations.
- Men have less chance say 20% of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a woman infected with gonorrhea.
- Women have more chance say 50% of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a man infected with gonorrhea.
- An infected mother may transmit gonorrhea to her newborn during vaginal childbirth.
Symptoms: Symptoms start within 2-10
days after getting exposed to an infected person. Symptoms are different for
men and women.
Men:
- Pain or burning during urination in most men
- Thick, yellow penile discharge 50% of the time
- Inflammation or infection of a duct in the testicles
- Infection or inflammation of the prostate
Women:
- Gonorrhea may cause a serious medical condition that can lead to infertility.
- Infection and irritation of the cervix.
- Need to urinate often.
- Itching and burning of the vagina, usually with a thick yellow or green discharge.
- Infection and irritation of the vagina.
- Bleeding between menstrual periods.
New Born: Gonorrhea infection during pregnancy can cause problems for the newborn baby, including meningitis (an inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord) and an eye infection that can result in blindness if it is not treated.
Throat infections from gonorrhea are transmitted through oral sex but occur without any other symptoms in less than 5% of people infected with gonorrhea. Rectal pain or discharge can be a sign of infection of the prostate and is transmitted through anal intercourse.
Treatment:
- Medicine: Several antibiotics can successfully cure gonorrhea in adolescents and adults.
- The doctor may prescribe a single-dose injection of an antibiotic.
- If you are pregnant or younger than 18, the doctor will usually prescribe the shot instead of a pill.
People who have had gonorrhea and have been treated can get the disease again if they have sexual contact with persons infected with gonorrhea.
Precaution:
- Learn about safer sex methods.
- Talk to your partner(s) about their STI (sexually transmitted infection) status and the use of protection.
- Correct use of condoms.
- Get tested for gonorrhea if you are sexually active.
- If infected, you should abstain from sex until both you and your sexual partner(s) have completed your antibiotic treatment.
Gonorrhea can be very dangerous if it is left untreated, even in someone who has mild or no symptoms. So as soon as you realize any of the symptom of Gonorrhea do contact your doctor.
(Sources: hc-sc.gc.ca, emedicinehealth.com, kidshealth.org)
(Image Sources: wales.nhs.uk/sites3/news.cfm?orgId=457&contentId=9608, kidshealth.org/teen/infections/stds/std_gonorrhea.html)
