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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This bacterium can easily grow and multiply in the areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and in the urethra in women and men. It can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes and anus.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns anyone who has any type of sex can catch gonorrhea. KidsHealth.org adds it can also be passed from mother to baby during birth.
Gonorrhea often has no symptoms. CDC says initial symptoms and signs in women include burning and pain when urinating, yellow-green vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Planned Parenthood says others are abdominal pain, fever, menstrual irregularities, and painful intercourse. Swelling or tenderness of the vulva, increased urinary frequency, and throwing up can also occur.
NIH says symptoms in men include burning and pain when urinating, increased urinary frequency or urgency, discharge from the penis, red or swollen opening of penis, tender or swollen testicles, and sore throat.
Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both sexes according to CDC. In women, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can damage the fallopian tubes enough to cause infertility or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. KidsHealth.org says gonorrhea during pregnancy can cause problems for the newborn, including meningitis and eye infections.
Untreated gonorrhea in men can result in epididymitis. CDC says epididymitis is a painful condition of the ducts attached to the testicles that may lead to infertility.
Gonorrhea is easy to treat with antibiotics. For people with gonorrhea, says KidsHealth.org, all of their sex partners should be tested and treated as well. And it’s important to take the full dose of medication. Planned Parenthood and CDC say the infected person and all sex partners must avoid sex until treatment is completed and all symptoms are gone. They should also be treated simultaneously so not to re-infect each other.
KidsHealth.org says people can become re-infected with gonorrhea even after being treated because having the STD doesn’t make one immune to it. And the CDC warns that although medication will stop the infection, it won’t repair any permanent damage done by the STD.
NIH says abstinence is the only absolute method of preventing gonorrhea. A monogamous sexual relationship with an individual known to be free of any STD can also reduce risk. KidsHealth.org recommends using a latex condom every time one has sex. This is the only birth control method that will help prevent gonorrhea.
Planned Parenthood advises since gonorrhea often has no symptoms, people who are at risk should be tested regularly.
Sources:
Gonorrhea. PubMed Health by National Center for Biotechnology Information and U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web 14 Nov 2011.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004526
Gonorrhea – CDC Fact Sheet. CDC.gov by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web 14 Nov 2011.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/stdfact-gonorrhea.htm
Gonorrhea. PlannedParenthood.org by Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. Web 14 Nov 2011.
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hiv-safer-sex/gonorrhea-4269.htm
Gohnorrhea. KidsHealth by the Nemours Foundation. Web 14 Nov 2011.
http://kidshealth.org/teen/infections/stds/std_gonorrhea.html
Reviewed November 16, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
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