A sexually transmitted infection that occurs due to bacteria is called gonorrhea. Infections that spread primarily by sexual contact with genital or body fluids are called sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sometimes, these infections are called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or venereal diseases. These infections usually are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
This bacteria can infect the urethra, mouth, throat, eyes, and female reproductive tract. In most cases, it spreads during vaginal, oral, or anal sexual activity. Furthermore, this condition may infect even babies during childbirth. Gonorrhea usually affects the eyes in newborns.
To prevent this infection is enough to avoid sexual activity or using condoms during sexual intercourse. Having sex only with one partner also reduces the risk of this infection.
Symptoms
Many people with gonorrhea do not experience any symptoms but when they occur it affects the genital tract as well as other body parts. Check below some examples:
Genital Tract
Check below some symptoms in men:
- Painful urination
- Discharge from the tip of the penile
- Swelling or pain in one testicle
Check also some symptoms in women below:
- Painful urination
- Elevated vaginal discharge
- Pain in the belly (abdomen) or pelvic region
- Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods (such as after vaginal intercourse)
Other Body Parts
- Rectum – When the infection affects the rectum it may cause the following symptoms. Examples include anal itching, discharge from the rectum, spots of bright red blood on the toilet, and others.
- Eyes – This sexually transmitted infection may cause eye pain, light sensitivity, and discharge from one of both eyes.
- Throat – These include sore throat and swollen lymph nodes.
- Joints – However, gonorrhea may negatively affect the joints. When it occurs, you may feel that joints are warm, swollen, and very painful, especially when you are moving. This is a condition called septic arthritis.
It is advised to visit a doctor if you notice the following symptoms. These include a burning sensation when you urinate, discharge from the penis, vagina, or rectum. You should visit a doctor if you do not have symptoms but your partner was diagnosed with gonorrhea.
Causes
This sexually transmitted infection occurs due to bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It usually spreads among people through sexual contact including vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse.
Risk Factors
Higher risk of getting gonorrhea have women younger than 25 years old and men who have sex with men. Check below other risk factors:
- New sex partners
- Have sex with a person who has multiple sexual partners
- Multiple sexual partners
- Have had gonorrhea or other STDs
What Are The Potential Complications of Gonorrhea?
If you ignore the symptoms and do not get treatment for this STD, you may experience serious complications. For example:
- Women’s infertility – This infection may spread into the uterus and fallopian tubes causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This condition may cause scarring of the tubes and a significant risk of pregnancy complications and infertility. However, PID is a medical emergency, meaning it requires treatment as soon as possible.
- Men infertility – Inflammation in epididymis may occur due to gonorrhea. Epididymis is a coiled tube that transports the sperm. Without treatment, epididymitis may lead to infertility.
- The infection spreads to other body parts – This bacteria may enter the bloodstream and infect other body parts such as joints. The most common symptoms include fever, skin sores, joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
- Higher risk of HIV/AIDS – People who have gonorrhea are more prone to get human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Moreover, people with both gonorrhea and HIV may pass both infections to their partners.
Gonorrhea may pass to the baby during birth and if it occurs, the baby is at increased risk of developing vision loss (blindness), sores on the scalp, and other infections.
Prevention
The following tips may reduce your risk of getting gonorrhea. Examples include:
- It is advised to use condoms if you have sex including anal, oral, or vaginal sex. However, the best way to prevent the infection is to avoid sexual activity.
- You should not have multiple partners because it increases your risk of getting gonorrhea and other STDs as well.
- If you suspect your partner has a sexually transmitted disease, better to avoid sexual activity. Such people may experience genital rash or soreness, painful urination, and others.
- It is important to make sure your partner is tested for STDs.
- If you are a sexually active woman before 25 years old or have multiple sexual partners, it is advised to get screened for STDs at least one time per year.
If you are at increased risk of getting the bacteria that causes gonorrhea, you may take Doxycycline for 3 days because it helps lessen the risk. You should also have regular screenings for STDs if you have sex with another man or transgender woman.
Diagnosis
There are nonprescription tests (sometimes called an at-home test) to determine whether you have gonorrhea. If the test results show you have this infection, you should immediately visit a doctor to confirm the condition and get treatment. Healthcare providers usually perform the following tests to confirm the condition. Examples include:
- Urine tests – These tests help doctors identify the bacteria in the urethra.
- A swab of the impacted area – A swab in the rectum, vagina, throat, or urethra may help collect the bacteria that is identified in a laboratory.
Tests for other STDs
Physicians may advise certain tests for other STIs because having gonorrhea the risk of getting other infections (such as chlamydia) increases. You should also get tested for HIV infection, which is required for all people with STIs.
Treatment
Treatment for Adults
Commonly, this STI is treated with antibiotics. Healthcare professionals often prescribe Ceftriaxone due to strains of drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This medicine is usually given as an injection. However, even after getting the medicine you can spread the infection. Thus, you should not have sex for at least one week.
You should get tested for gonorrhea 3 months after treatment according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is done to make sure you have not been infected again due to an untreated partner or a new one.
Treatment for Partners
Your partner or partners also should get tested for gonorrhea after 3 months even if do not have symptoms. If either one partner is not treated for gonorrhea, one of them may become infected again through sexual contact.
Treatment for Babies
Babies that get this infection at birth also are treated with antibiotics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can gonorrhea be cured?
Early diagnosis and treatment can cure this STI. It is important to take all medicines exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Unfortunately, damage caused by the infection cannot be reversed.
What are the primary symptoms of gonorrhea?
These include:
- Painful and swollen joints
- Fever
- Discharge from the vagina, penis, or rectum
- Painful urination in both men and women
- Increased urinary frequency
- Anal swelling
If any of the previous symptoms occur, immediately visit a doctor.
What are possible gonorrhea complications?
Without treatment, this infection may cause serious complications. For example:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common complication in women that may lead to infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy.
- Epididymitis is a painful condition that negatively affects the testicles and may cause men infertility.
- Disseminated gonococcal infection
- Neonatal conjunctivitis
- Heart valve damage
If you suspect any of the previous complications happen, immediately visit a doctor. Ask your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.
