Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea, known also as "the clap", is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is the second most common sexually transmitted disease with more than 700,000 new cases each year. It can be found in the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, urethra, vagina, penis, anus and mouth. It is transmitted through sexual contact with semen and vaginal secretions.
Any sexually active person is at risk, especially those with multiple sexual partners or individuals who are African-American. The most at risk age groups include 15 to 19 year old women, and 20 to 24 year old men.
Symptoms
Women typically are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms, which may be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Symptoms include:
- Pain during urination early after exposure.
- Increase in vaginal discharge or bleeding.
Men may sometimes be asymptomatic, but this is very rare. Their symptoms often include:
- Burning during urination
- White, yellow or green discharge from penis.
- Painful or swollen testicles.
- Pain with intercourse.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Doctors must obtain and test a sample from suspected area of infection. A urine test may be needed if the infection is localized to the cervix or urethra.
Individuals who are being tested for gonorrhea should be tested for other sexually transmitted infections, as it is common to have more than one infection with gonorrhea.
Several antibiotics cure gonorrheal infections. However, many drug-resistant types of gonorrhea are increasing, making it more difficult to successfully treat the infection. It is important to finish all of the medication prescribed to cure the infection.
What happens if you go untreated?
If gonorrhea goes untreated, serious complications can occur. These complications include:
- Epididymitis: inflammation of the testicles where the sperm ducts are located (epididymis). If left untreated, it may lead to infertility.
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Bacteria spreads into the uterus and fallopian tubes, which may cause scarring of the tubes, increased risk for ectopic pregnancies and infertility. Although PID may be asymptomatic, symptoms may include abdominal pain, backache, irregular menstrual periods, pain with intercourse and foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
- Spread of infection during pregnancy: A pregnant woman may spread the infection to her baby as the baby passes through the birth canal during delivery. In the infant, gonorrhea can cause blindness and widespread infection of the joints and blood.
- Anorectal Gonorrhea: Occurs in both sexes; results from anal intercourse with an infected person or from the spread of the infection from the genital area. Many times anorectal gonorrhea is asymptomatic but may cause pain and discharge from the anus.
- Pharyngeal Gonorrhea: Results from oral sex with an infected person. Symptoms include sore throat, painful swallowing and redness of the throat and tonsils.
- Eye inflammation: Infection may be spread by touching or rubbing the eye after the hand has been in contact with infected discharge. Symptoms may include a red, inflamed eye (conjunctivitis). In infants who contract gonorrhea during birth, gonorrheal eye infections may lead to blindness.
- Widespread infection in the body: Rarely, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, may travel to the bloodstream and cause infection in other parts of the body. Fever, rash, skin sores, joint pain, swelling and stiffness may occur.
All complications of gonorrheal infections are extremely serious and require immediate medical attention. If left untreated, more serious complications may result.