Gonorrhea is a prevalent sexually transmitted disease (STD) that occurs at the rate of approximately 600,000 new cases per year in the US alone. Gonorrhea is also termed “the clap,” and untreated gonorrhea is the leading cause for several diseases in women that are linked to later infertility. These include pelvic inflammatory disease, scarring of the fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy, and endometriosis.
Gonorrhea is caused by a specific bacterium, called Neisseria, which spreads rapidly through contact of infected parts of the body. Both men and women are at risk for developing this condition. As well, undiagnosed pregnant women with gonorrhea may pass this condition to a child as it passes through the birth canal. The bacterium can cause serious complications to the newborn.
Sexual intercourse is the primary means of transmission of gonorrhea, but it is a mistake to believe that gonorrhea may only be passed through intercourse. While it is true, that gonorrhea primarily affects the penis and vagina, the bacteria can spread with any type of illicit oral or mutual masturbatory sex, and infections can occur in the throat, eyes, and anus. The bacteria thrives in moist areas of the body, so it does not tend to directly affect the skin of the body, though the skin particularly on the fingers can transmit the bacterium to more vulnerable areas of the body.
Symptoms of gonorrhea affecting the throat can include sores in the mouth, and fever, aches and chills in some cases. Contact in the eyes can cause a form of pink eye. Gonorrhea in the vagina can cause itchiness of the pubic area, particularly in the skin surrounding the vagina. The cervix may also be irritated, and there is occasionally abnormal bleeding or discharge, and a burning sensation during urination.
In men, the infection may be unnoticed since only about 20% of men who contract gonorrhea directly on the penis will have symptoms. Usually, the bacteria irritates the urethra, which is the hollow tube through which both semen and urine pass in the male, with its outlet in the tip of the penis. Men may also experience redness at the tip of the penis, pain or blood during urination, and discharge from the penis. The glands in the groin may be swollen, and men may feel a more frequent urge to urinate.
Gonorrhea infection can affect multiple sites in your body, but it most commonly appears in the genital tract.
Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea infection in men include:
Painful urination
Pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis
Pain or swelling in one testicle
Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea infection in women include:
Increased vaginal discharge
Painful urination
Vaginal bleeding between periods, such as after intercourse
Abdominal pain
Pelvic pain
Gonorrhea at other sites in the body
Gonorrhea can also affect these parts of the body:
Rectum. Signs and symptoms include anal itching, pus-like discharge from the rectum, spots of bright red blood on toilet tissue and having to strain during bowel movements.
Eyes. Gonorrhea that affects your eyes may cause eye pain, sensitivity to light, and pus-like discharge from one or both eyes.
Throat. Signs and symptoms of a throat infection may include a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Joints. If one or more joints become infected by bacteria (septic arthritis), the affected joints may be warm, red, swollen and extremely painful, especially when you move an affected joint.
Gonorrhea can develop into more serious medical conditions if not treated. You must see a doctor for treatment.
Previously, a class of antibiotics known as the fluoroquinolones (examples are ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and levofloxacin) was widely used in the treatment of gonorrheal infection. Because of increasing resistance of many tested samples of N. gonorrhoeae to the fluoroquinolone drugs, the CDC now recommends that only one class of antibiotics, the cephalosporins, be used to treat gonorrheal infections.
The health care practitioner may prescribe a single-dose injection of an antibiotic such as ceftriaxone (Rocephin) or a single-dose pill such as cefixime (Suprax).
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Because patients with gonorrhea frequently also have chlamydia, they are often treated presumptively for both diseases just on the basis of a single diagnosis.
In recent years, drug resistant gonorrhea has become more problematic, both in the United States and worldwide. As of April 12, 2007, the CDC has removed numerous drugs from their treatment recommendations because they are no longer considered to be effective. Right now there is only one class of drugs considered to be effective in the treatment of gonorrhea. It is thus essential that if you are prescribed antibiotics you take them as written, and finish your prescription even if you feel better. This reduces the risk of your infection developing resistance. If the last class of drugs loses its effectiveness, it is possible that gonorrhea could become an incurable disease.
Treatment for gonorrhea differs depending on whether gonorrhea is present in the genitals or in the throat. Throat infections with gonorrhea are more difficult to treat and may require more extensive treatment. Infections that have spread beyond the primary site of infection causing, for example, pelvic inflammatory disease or epididymitis, may also require more intense treatment.
When you are being treated for gonorrhea it is important that your partner are treated as well. If not, you could end up passing the infection back and forth between you. You should also abstain from sex until your symptoms clear up, and for at least 7 days after the start of treatment, in order not to infect your partner.
Many doctors recommend that patients with a gonorrhea diagnosis return 3 months later for a check up. This is not because treatment is ineffective, but to make certain that you have not been re-infected by your partner.