Gonorrhea : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

 



Gonorrhea is generally described as an infection which is usually caused by a sexually transmitted bacterium that usually infects both females and male. Gonorrhea disease usually affects the urethra, rectum or throat. In females, gonorrhea infection also affects the cervix area.


Gonorrhea infection is generally spread during vaginal, oral or anal sex. But especially, if babies of the mother are infected then the baby will be affected during childbirth. In most cases, gonorrhea infection will affect the eyes.


The best ways to prevent from sexually transmitted infections are abstain from sex, or use condoms during sex or if you are in a monogamous relationship.


Symptoms


Most of the cases,gonorrhea infection won’t cause any symptoms. Symptoms mostly affect many parts of your body but the symptoms commonly appear in the genital tract.


Gonorrhea infection will affect the genital tract


Some signs of gonorrhea infection in men include:


  • Severe painful urination

  • Sometime, pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis

  • Feeling pain or swelling in one testicle


Some signs of gonorrhea infection in women include:


  • Severely increased vaginal discharge

  • Severe painful urination

  • Sometime you have vaginal bleeding between periods, such as after vaginal intercourse

  • Sudden abdominal or pelvic pain


Gonorrhea infection at other sites in the body



Rectum

Signs of this part of infection are anal itching,pus-like discharge from the rectum, bright red blood spots on toilet tissue and strains while bowel movements.

Eyes

Infection usually affects your eyes and it can cause eye pain, more sensitive to see light, pus like discharge from one or two eyes


Throat

An infection might include having sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.


Joints

Joints are affected by bacteria (septic arthritis), affected joints might be warm,red,swollen and severe pain during movement.


Risk factors


Women who are active in sex and younger than age 25 and men who are all having sex with men are at the high risk of getting gonorrhea infection.


Some other factors are:


  • If you are having a new sex partner

  • Having a sex partner who has other partners for sex

  • If you have more than one sex partner for your sexual life

  • Having another sexually transmitted infection with gonorrhea 


What causes gonorrhea?


You will get an infection when the bacteria of gonorrhea  enters your body through the sexual fluids, such as semen or vaginal fluid while having unprotected sex. Usually the bacteria of gonorrhea infection enters in your body sites through some parts like penis, vagina, mouth or anus. And particularly,you or your partner must be ejaculated to spread the bacteria of gonorrhea infection. You can also spread gonorrhea bacteria through your unwashed sex toys or not covered with a new condom.


Complications


Complications in women


In female, untreated gonorrhea can:


  • It can spread to other reproductive organs like your uterus and fallopian tubes which causes pelvic inflammatory disease. PID will lead to infertility and ectopic pregnancies and this will lead to life-threatening to the mother and the baby.

  • It can cause eye problems in infants for untreated birthing parents, which leads to blindness.

  • It can spread to other body sites which causes swollen and painful joints and heart valves and severe brian damage.


Complications in men

In people for men,  untreated gonorrhea can cause:


  • Infertility.

  • Having scars in the urethra.

  • Severe inflammation of the testicles.

  • More pain and inflammation.

  • It can spread to other body sites which causes swollen and painful joints and heart valves and severe brian damage.


Tests for gonorrhea


A doctor can diagnose gonorrhea by few different ways:


  • Testing your urine. Frequently, a urine test can detect gonorrhea.

  • Testing a sample of fluid. Your healthcare professionals will swab your penis, vagina, throat, or rectum for a sample of fluid for testing. This test will require a laboratory culture which will take several days for the result.


  • Testing your blood.This test won't be conclusive. In rare cases, your doctor will use a blood test to detect gonorrhea.


You can also use an at-home gonorrhea test.


Gonorrhea Treatment


Your healthcare professional will suggest you some antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Strains will become immune to certain antibiotics. So that you will get two types of drugs are an injection and pills. Even if you feel better quickly, you have to take all your medications completely.


Talk to your doctors, if you are pregnant and having gonorrhea, you can get the right treatment. Usually, this STD will cause health problems for babies. So it's more important to treat the disease to help lower your risk of baby’s complications.



With the help of the right treatment, gonorrhea is curable. But usually one treatment success won’t help you to protect your life. You will need to keep protected sex to avoid getting it again.

Prevention


Follow these steps to protect yourself from gonorrhea:


Should use condoms. This will help you from getting STD. Condoms act as a barrier and keep away bacteria from infecting you. If you are getting spermicide to protect you from infection but it won't help you to prevent them.


Whther your sexual partners get tested. Ask them whether they have been checked for gonorrhea. If they have not gotten tested, talk to them about it.


You should not have sex with someone who has symptoms of gonorrhea.

If your partner complained of burning feelings while peeing or having sores in the genital area? You should take a break from sex until you check for the symptoms and your partner also.


Should get regular screenings. 

You should get tested for gonorrhea once a year if you are:

  • man who having sex with other men

  • Woman who active in sex and under the age of 25

  • Woman who has a new sexual partner or multiple partners or having partner with an STD


If you want to avoid gonorrhea again, you should abstain from sex until you and your sex partner have completed your treatment and if the symptoms are gone.


Frequently Asked Questions


Q1. What are 4 symptoms of gonorrhea?

Ans: Anyone with genital symptoms such as discharge, burning during urination, unusual sores, or rash should stop having sex and you must see a health care provider immediately.



Q2.Can I treat gonorrhea by myself?

Ans: While the internet is full of potential home remedies for gonorrhea, these aren't reliable. Antibiotics are the only effective treatment for gonorrhea.



Q3.Is there a vaccine for gonorrhea?

Ans: Acceptability of a gonococcal vaccine among sexually active men who have sex with men. There is no vaccine licensed to prevent gonorrhea.



Q4.What kind of doctor do you see for gonorrhea?

Ans: Infectious disease specialist - May be of benefit in cases of disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) or complicated disease courses.



Q5.How is gonorrhea tested?

Ans: A doctor or nurse can test your urine for both chlamydia and gonorrhea. Sometimes, the doctor might take a sample from the vagina, penis, rectum, or throat instead. The test is easy and painless.

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