Gonorrhea what is it

Even when a woman has symptoms, they are often so mild and nonspecific that they are mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection 8 , 9. The initial symptoms and signs in women include dysuria, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms.

Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements Rectal infection also may be asymptomatic. Pharyngeal infection may cause a sore throat, but usually is asymptomatic 11 , In women, gonorrhea can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease PID. The symptoms may be quite mild or can be very severe and can include abdominal pain and fever PID can lead to internal abscesses and chronic pelvic pain.

PID can also damage the fallopian tubes enough to cause infertility or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. In men, gonorrhea may be complicated by epididymitis. In rare cases, this may lead to infertility If left untreated, gonorrhea can also spread to the blood and cause disseminated gonococcal infection DGI. This condition can be life threatening. If a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, she may give the infection to her baby 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 reduce the risk of these complications. Pregnant women should consult a health care provider for appropriate examination, testing, and treatment, as necessary.

Anyone with genital symptoms such as discharge, burning during urination, unusual sores, or rash should stop having sex and see a health care provider immediately. Also, anyone with an oral, anal, or vaginal sex partner who has been recently diagnosed with an STD should see a health care provider for evaluation. Some people should be tested screened for gonorrhea even if they do not have symptoms or know of a sex partner who has gonorrhea Anyone who is sexually active should discuss his or her risk factors with a health care provider and ask whether he or she should be tested for gonorrhea or other STDs.

CDC recommends yearly gonorrhea screening for all sexually active women younger than 25 years, as well as older women with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection. Urogenital gonorrhea can be diagnosed by testing urine, urethral for men , or endocervical or vaginal for women specimens using nucleic acid amplification testing NAAT It can also be diagnosed using gonorrhea culture, which requires endocervical or urethral swab specimens.

FDA-cleared rectal and oral diagnostic tests for gonorrhea as well as chlamydia have been validated for clinical use Gonorrhea can be cured with the right treatment. CDC now recommends a single mg intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone for the treatment of gonorrhea.

Alternative regimens are available when ceftriaxone cannot be used to treat urogenital or rectal gonorrhea. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease. Antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhea is of increasing concern, and successful treatment of gonorrhea is becoming more difficult A test-of-cure is needed days after treatment for people who are treated for pharyngeal infection of the throat gonorrhea.

Because re-infection is common, men and women with gonorrhea should be retested three months after treatment of the initial infection, regardless of whether they believe that their sex partners were successfully treated. If a person has been diagnosed and treated for gonorrhea, he or she should tell all recent anal, vaginal, or oral sex partners so they can see a health provider and be treated A person with gonorrhea and all of his or her sex partners must avoid having sex until they have completed their treatment for gonorrhea and until they no longer have symptoms.

Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of gonorrhea The surest way to avoid transmission of gonorrhea or other STDs is to abstain from vaginal, anal, and oral sex, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

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Health officials will also contact other people these individuals may have had sexual contact with. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhea is a growing challenge. These cases may require more extensive treatment, with a 7-day course of an oral antibiotic or dual therapy with two different antibiotics, usually for a total of 7 days of therapy. The antibiotics used for extended therapy are usually given once or twice a day.

Some common antibiotics used include azithromycin and doxycycline. The safest way to prevent gonorrhea or other STIs is through abstinence. If you do engage in sexual activities, always use a condom or other barrier method.

If your partner is showing any symptoms, avoid any sexual contact. Ask them to seek medical attention to rule out any possible conditions that could be passed on. If you think you may have contracted gonorrhea, you should avoid any sexual activity. You should also contact your doctor immediately. Cutting your course of antibiotics short can make the bacteria more likely to develop resistance to the antibiotic. You also need to follow up with your doctor 1 to 2 weeks later to make sure that everything has cleared.

Understanding the risks and knowing the signs of common STDs is crucial for men who are sexually active. Learn how to spot the main symptoms. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that may not present any noticeable symptoms. Although sometimes without symptoms, delaying treatment…. Vaginal discharge is normal in menstruating women. Changes in color, odor, or consistency may be a sign of a health condition. Systemic gonococcal infection, or disseminated gonococcal infection DGI , is a serious medical condition where the bacteria that cause gonorrhea can….

Herpes simplex virus is common in the United States. Learn about gonorrhea treatment and prevention here…. Information on sexually transmitted infections specifically for women. Read about gender specific symptoms, prevention and tests. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Symptoms of gonorrhea. The bacteria cannot survive outside the human body for long.

Typical symptoms of gonorrhoea include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when peeing and, in women, bleeding between periods. But around 1 in 10 infected men and almost half of infected women do not experience any symptoms. Call a sexual health clinic if you need help or advice. Only go to a clinic if you've been told to. Find sexual health clinic contact details. If you have any of the symptoms of gonorrhoea or you're worried you may have an STI, you should visit a sexual health clinic for a sexual health test.

Find a sexual health clinic. You can also contact the national sexual health helpline free on Gonorrhoea can be easily diagnosed by testing a sample of discharge picked up using a swab. In men, testing a sample of urine can also diagnose the condition. It's important to get tested as soon as possible because gonorrhoea can lead to more serious long-term health problems if it's not treated, including pelvic inflammatory disease PID in women or infertility.