What it is: Gonorrhea is a sexually transmissible infection that affects an estimated 800,000 persons per year in the United States, the majority of whom are under 25 years old. Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which enters the body through warm, moist skin of the genital and urinary organs, the mouth, the anus, and the eyes. It can affect all of these organs and is transmitted through genital, oral, or anal contact. The infection may also be spread to the eyes through hand contact between the eyes and infected areas. The risk of acquiring gonorrhea in one unprotected act of intercourse with an infected individual is 50% for women and 25% for men. Since many of its symptoms are elusive, and untreated gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, a person is advised to seek medical attention if exposure to the disease is suspected.
Symptoms: (Usually appear 3 to 10 days after contact with an infected person)
| MALE | FEMALE |
| As many as 50% of infected men experience no symptoms | As many as 80% of infected women experience no symptoms |
| Thick, cloudy, foul-smelling penile discharge | Thick, pus-like vaginal discharge |
| Painful, burning sensation upon urination | Vaginal soreness |
| Tender and swollen lymph nodes in the groin | Lower (occasionally right upper) abdominal pain |
| Testicular or abdominal pain | Painful, burning sensation upon urination |
| Sore throat | Sore throat |
| Painful defecation | Painful defecation |
Testing and Diagnosis: Tests at Vaden are performed using a urine sample, or a swab taken during a pelvic exam. If the infection presents elsewhere in the body, a culture is taken from that area. If a partner’s test is positive, many physicians recommend that both parties are treated for the infection.
Treatment: The sooner gonorrhea is treated, the easier it is to cure with fewer complications. A person should consult a care provider as soon as infection is suspected. Treatment entails a prescription antibiotic, either a one-time injection or an oral medication used for a week. All medication should be taken even if symptoms disappear. During treatment, one should use barrier methods or refrain from sexual activity. A patient is not considered fully cured until 2 cultures come back negative after completing the antibiotics.
Complications: As many as 40% of infected and untreated women may develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and between 10 and 50% of these women will become sterile. Untreated PID can also lead to abscesses in the abdomen requiring surgery, and can even lead to death. Men are at risk for sterility, stricture of the urethra, and other genital complications. Mothers can pass the disease to their children during birth, and this can lead to serious illness.
Prevention:
- Barrier methods (condoms and/or dental dams) reduce the risk of transmission.
- Limit number of sexual partners
- Get tested with a partner and only have sex with each other
- See a health care practitioner if there is a chance that you have been exposed