Gonorrhea

 

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea. It could lead to long-term health problems and infertility, but antibiotics can cure it and reduce the chance of complications. 

What is gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is an STD that can cause infection in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is very common, especially among young people ages 15-24 years.

How is gonorrhea spread?

You can get gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has gonorrhea. A  pregnant women with gonorrhea can give the infection to their baby during childbirth.

How can I reduce my risk of getting gonorrhea?

The only way to completely avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

If you are sexually active, the following things can lower your chances of getting gonorrhea:

• Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and does not have gonorrhea.
• Using condoms every time you have sex.

Am I at risk for gonorrhea?

Sexually active people can get gonorrhea through vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom with a partner who has gonorrhea.

If you are sexually active, have an honest and open talk with your healthcare provider. Ask them if you should get tested for gonorrhea or other STDs. If you are a sexually active gay or bisexual man, you should get tested for gonorrhea every year. If you are a sexually active woman, you should get tested for gonorrhea every year if you are:

• Younger than 25 years.
• 25 years and older with risk factors, such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.

 

 

Gonorrhea affecting 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 vaginal intercourse

·         Abdominal or 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 can cause eye pain, sensitivity to light, and pus-like discharge from one or both eyes.

·         Throat. Signs and symptoms of a throat infection might 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 might be warm, red, swollen and extremely painful, especially during movement.

 

 

 

This common STI tends to target warm, moist areas of the body, including the:

• urethra, or tube that drains urine from the bladder
• eyes
• throat
• Vagina
• anus
•  Female reproductive tract , which includes the fallopian tubes, cervix, and uterus

Gonorrhea can affect people of any age or gender, but it’s particularly  Common trusted source , among teens and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24.

Symptoms gonorrhea

You may not always notice any symptoms if you have gonorrhea. But even if you’re an asymptomatic carrier — which means you have no symptoms — you can still transmit gonorrhea. 

You might even be more likely to transmit it to your sexual partner(s) when you don’t have any symptoms, since you aren’t aware you have the infection. 

You’re more likely to notice signs and symptoms of gonorrhea in the morning, according to Planned parenthood .

15 Symptoms of Gonorrhea

One of the most common sexually-transmitted diseases, often known as STD’s, is gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is definitely a serious condition that you need to seek treatment for but identifying whether you have gonorrhea can be difficult. There are a few different symptoms that you can look for when you are trying to determine whether you have a sexually-transmitted disease, but they are not always completely accurate. That’s why you need to be aware of your sexual partners, ask questions, and try to limit the number of partners you have that you don’t know well. 

You should also take any precautions that you can, such as the use of condoms and participating in safer sex practices that are less likely to lead to an STD. Most of all, you need to educate yourself, and that starts with knowing what the symptoms of gonorrhea actually are.  Here are eight symptoms of gonorrhea that you can be on the lookout for. 

1. Urination & Intercourse Symptoms

The first set of symptoms that we’ll be discussing is urination symptoms. Paying attention to your urination can give you a great deal of information, especially when it comes to STD’s. The key to knowing whether you have an  𝗦𝗧𝗗with urination is to determine whether you have pain when urinating. This is the same for both men and women. 

Anyone that has ever gotten soap or shampoo in their urinal tract and experienced painful burning from it for a period of time will be familiar with the sensation of painful urination. There are other conditions that can be diagnosed through urination problems, such as kidney stones, but the pain from an STD is a burning pain that is less intense than kidney stone pain. It is very similar to what you might feel from getting soap in the wrong place. You might also experience pain while having sexual intercourse as well.

 

 

 

 

2.Abnormal Bleeding

Another big symptom is abnormal bleeding. This is not very common, but it can sometimes happen with gonorrhea. Generally, this will happen to women more often than it happens to men, and it usually presents in the form of abnormal bleeding between periods. If you are between periods, and you notice what is normally called “spotting,” then you may want to get tested for STD’s. For men, this usually presents as anal bleeding.

Remember, an STD is first and foremost an infection, so it can be difficult to predict where it will present, but if you notice either of these problems, and you cannot think of another reason why the bleeding may be happening (such as hemorrhoids), then you may want to get an STD test. There are lots of reasons why abnormal bleeding may happen, but instances, where it happens, are pretty rare, so if you experience this, it is a good opportunity to go and get tested.

3.Vaginal, Penile or Other Discharge

Discharge is definitely something that you want to look into. Discharge is the direct result of an infection, and it can be a big neon sign to having an STD like gonorrhea. There are a few types of discharge that may happen when you have a sexually-transmitted disease. The first is discharge through sexual organs. This discharge happens in both men and women, and as long as you are paying attention to your body, you should be able to tell when you are experiencing a discharge.

 

For men, the discharge will come from the tip of the penis. For women, it will be harder to discern. Both genders should definitely pay attention to their bodies and any discharge that is coming out. An uncommon complaint from those that have gonorrhea is anal discharge and diarrhea. However, just because it is uncommon doesn’t mean it is impossible, and you should get checked if you think that you have this particular symptom.

 

4.Swelling

Swelling can be a sign that you have a sexually-transmitted disease like gonorrhea as well. The swelling will usually only happen with guys because it almost never happens to any areas outside of the testicles. However, it can be difficult to know if your testicles are swollen. If the swelling is only slight, then looking at them is not going to help, so you should pay attention to how you feel instead.

Most guys know what it feels like to get injured in that particular region and swelling of the testicles can have some of those same sensations – especially the ones that occur after the injury has occurred and after most of the pain has gone away. This will usually build up over a period of days or weeks, so you are going to have to pay attention after each sexual encounter.

 

 

5.Itching

Itching can also be a symptom of some infection like gonorrhea taking its toll. This itching can present in several locations. For men, the itching may be in the penis – and it may feel like it is deep inside and impossible to get to – but often it is not near the penis at all, but instead, you experience itching of the anus. The problem is, most guys do not pay close attention to such an innocuous symptom since the same symptom can present when you don’t wipe properly as well.

However, this can be an indicator that you need to get tested, especially if you are experiencing other symptoms as well. For women, the itching usually happens in the genital region. Again, this is something that can occur with other illnesses and conditions, but women that experience this itching should consider gonorrhea as a potential cause and get tested.

 

 

6.Pain

There are a couple of ways that gonorrhea can cause pain. One of the ways is painful urination. This is usually the same for both men and women. The pain usually comes just as the urination begins and it is often accompanied by burning. The reason that this happens is due to the bacterial infection inside of the urethra and the swelling and  inflammation that happens because of it.

Men are more likely to experience this symptom, but women can have painful burning when urinating as well. However, with men specifically, there is another type of pain that can be caused by gonorrhea. Men can experience swelling of the testicles which causes anything from a dull ache to a sharp, pronounced pain.

 

7.Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be a symptom, but it is a pretty uncommon one. Generally, if you do experience this symptom as part of gonorrhea, you are going to experience a couple of other symptoms with it – itching of the rectum and painful bowel movements. However, there are lots of reasons that you might have diarrhea, from food poisoning to an overactive stomach and digestive system due to stress. 

 

So, unless the diarrhea is accompanied by pain or itching around the anus area, then you are probably looking at a different cause for your diarrhea. It is also important to note that gonorrhea generally affects the area of the body where the infection is present. For example, you can get gonorrhea of the eye, which can, if left untreated, cause partial or full blindness eventually. When you get gonorrhea from a sexual encounter, the genitals are the most likely place where you will notice symptoms.

 

 

8.Absence of Symptoms

However, more often than not, there are no symptoms for gonorrhea whatsoever. Many people do not experience any symptoms like the ones described here when they have gonorrhea, but just because you are not experiencing symptoms does not mean that the infection is not wreaking havoc on your system anyway. For this reason, it is vital that you get yourself test for gonorrhea and other Sexually-Transmitted diseases as often as you can.

When you have regular testing done, then you are able to get treatment for gonorrhea, even if you didn’t know that you had it. How often you should be tested depends upon how sexually active you are. Once a month is a good rule-of-thumb, but it could be more for someone who is more sexually active and once every three months for someone who rarely has sex.

 

9. Tenderness

While gonorrhea may cause pain in the area of the infection, it is also possible that it might just cause a little tenderness. That is caused by the swelling which can cause the area to become inflamed and painful. But seeing as it’s very possible to experience gonorrhea with no symptoms at all, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that sometimes you might experience just a milder version of those same symptoms.

 

If you experience tenderness in the genitals, this can be a sign of numerous things and you should always try to consider the symptoms together as a whole rather than looking at them in an isolated fashion. Tenderness in the genitals, in particular, is actually a relatively rarer symptom of gonorrhea.

 

 

10. Swelling of the Foreskin

Swelling in the foreskin is another potential symptom of gonorrhea. Swelling in response to an infection is the body’s attempt at trying to make the environment less hospitable to bacteria. In other words, it is attempting to drive the bacteria out of the body while at the same time flooding the area with white blood cells.

If you have swelling in the foreskin, then this might make it more uncomfortable to engage in normal activities. For example, it might become a little painful when experiencing an erection as the foreskin must push over the tip of the penis. This, in turn, can make sex more difficult.

 

 

 

11. Tiredness

Tiredness is one of the most universal symptoms when it comes to a huge range of different illnesses and infections. In the case of an infection, you will become tired as your body attempts to fight the infection and provides your immune system with more of the energy. This leaves you with less energy yourself.

At the same time, the pro-inflammatory cytokines that trigger the inflammation you experience downstairs can also impact on the brain, causing tiredness, brain fog, and even depression. Ever wondered why you find it hard to concentrate when you are suffering from a cold? Brain fog, and the responsible cytokines, holds the answer.

 

 

12. Conjunctivitis

When we think of gonorrhea, we understandably think of the symptoms as that effect the genitals. This is the most common area to experience them and thus it is what most people will be looking out for.

 

In fact, though, Conjunctives is also a potential repercussion of gonorrhea. This becomes an issue if ever the semen or vaginal fluids come into contact with the eyes, when the person has the infection. You might then experience redness of the eyes and soreness as the result of having an infection, and this can likewise trigger symptoms like tiredness and fever. The main difference is simply that the pain is affecting the eyes.

While gonorrhea can often present with no symptoms when it affects the genitals, it tends to be a little harder to miss around the eyes, where it is likely to cause redness, swelling, and the production of discharge. This is a result yet again of the body attempting to fight the infection and in this case, flush it out.

It is possible in some cases for a gonorrhea infection to be passed to a child. This happens because the baby receives the infection from the mother directly, and during birth. The infection will affect their eyes as well as their lungs, and they will show signs of discharge and redness around the eyes early on. 

It is very important for this reason to always get checked for STDs when you get pregnant if you think there is any chance that you may have contracted one.

13. Anal Discharge

Anal discharge, swelling, and discomfort are all symptoms of gonorrhea affecting the anus – which can occur as a result of unprotected anal sex.

 

 

Keep in mind as well, that as gonorrhea is able to survive by being transferred on the hands, it is also possible to experience other forms of gonorrhea and for it to spread. For instance, if you have a gonorrhea infection that causes you to itch before touching your eyes, then you may cause yourself Conjunctives .

The main way that gonorrhea can not spread however is on surfaces where it will die almost instantly. 

Likewise, gonorrhea can also affect the throat during unprotected oral sex, where it might similarly cause swelling, pain, and discharge, This may make it hard to talk or to swallow food. This may be mistaken for other forms of throat infection.

 

14. Infertility

In extreme cases, if the condition is allowed to progress, then it can eventually lead to infertility.This is why it is so important to be vigilant when considering safe sex practices. If you suspect that you may have gonorrhea infection, then it is your moral obligation to ensure that you properly inform all prospective partners and that you use protection. Likewise, it is an important responsibility to ensure that you are regularly tested for STDs if you are sexually active. 

While infertility is uncommon and is considered a complication, it is dangerous in particular due to the fact that it can so often go unnoticed. Once gonorrhea is correctly diagnosed, it can be easily treated in most cases through a course of antibiotics. These can also be used to treat the infection in babies.

15. Risk Factors

While risk factors are not symptoms, it is always useful to consider them in conjunction with the symptoms. If you are looking at the symptoms, then chances are that you are trying to diagnose discomfort you are experiencing, or that you are trying to assess your own likelihood of having the condition. In either case, knowing whether you are statistically at risk can be very useful.

 

In the case of gonorrhea, the main risk factor is, of course, sexual contact. If you have had unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone who hasn’t been checked for STDs, then you are at risk. Note as well that the male partner does not need to ejaculate in order for the condition to spread, which also means that a condom cannot offer 100% protection against transmission. Simply touching an infected area may be enough to cause the disease to spread.

Keep in mind that the symptoms will normally show up 2-5 days after contact, though in some cases they may never appear.

Causes

Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The gonorrhea bacteria are most often passed from one person to another during sexual contact, including oral, anal or vaginal intercourse.

Diagnosis

A person might receive a diagnosis of gonorrhea if they see a doctor due to symptoms or suspected exposure to the bacteria.

The doctor will ask the person about their symptoms and medical history. They will also order a test, which might require a urine sample or a swab of the penis, cervix, urethra, anus, eyelid, or throat.

At-home tests are also available. A person using an  sends their sample to a lab and receives the results directly. If the result is positive, they need to see a doctor for treatment, and the doctor may wish to do another test to confirm the result.

It is  crucial to use the kit exactly as instructed, or the result may not be accurate. Because the tests can vary in accuracy, it is better to see a healthcare professional, if possible.

If one person has a diagnosis of gonorrhea or another  STI, any sexual partners should also receive testing.

 Risk factors

Sexually active women younger than 25 and men who have sex with men are at increased risk of getting gonorrhea.

Other factors that can increase your risk include:

·         Having a new sex partner

·         Having a sex partner who has other partners

·         Having more than one sex partner

·         Having had gonorrhea or another sexually transmitted infection

Complications

Untreated gonorrhea can lead to major complications, such as:

·         Infertility in women. Gonorrhea can spread into the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PIDcan result in scarring of the tubes, greater risk of pregnancy complications and infertility. PIDrequires immediate treatment.

·         Infertility in men. Gonorrhea can cause a small, coiled tube in the rear portion of the testicles where the sperm ducts are located (epididymis) to become inflamed (epididymitis). Untreated epididymitis can lead to infertility.

·         Infection that spreads to the joints and other areas of your body. The bacterium that causes gonorrhea can spread through the bloodstream and infect other parts of your body, including your joints. Fever, rash, skin sores, joint pain, swelling and stiffness are possible results.

·         Increased risk of HIV/AIDS. Having gonorrhea makes you more susceptible to infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that leads to AIDS. People who have both gonorrhea and HIV are able to pass both diseases more readily to their partners.

·         Complications in babies. Babies who contract gonorrhea from their mothers during birth can develop blindness, sores on the scalp and infections.

 

  test gonorrhea 

A healthcare professional can diagnose gonorrhea in a few different ways: 

• Testing your urine. Often, a urine test can detect gonorrhea. 
• Testing a sample of fluid. A healthcare professional may also swab your penis, vagina, throat, or rectum to get a sample of fluid for testing. This type of test requires a laboratory culture, which can take several days. 
• Testing your blood. In rare instances, a healthcare professional may use a  Blood test to detect gonorrhea. However, this test may not be conclusive. 

You’ll generally receive results within a few days, though this can depend on your clinic or testing location. Some clinics may provide test results within a few hours. 

If you believe you could have gonorrhea, it’s important to avoid any sexual activity until you receive a negative test result. 

You may also consider purchasing an at-home gonorrhea test.

Treatment gonorrhea

Modern antibiotics can cure gonorrhea, in most cases. 

You can’t treat gonorrhea with over the counter or home remedies. If you think you could have gonorrhea, or a sexual partner receives a positive test result, you’ll need to get a diagnosis and treatment from a healthcare professional.

Antibiotics

The  recommended treatment for gonorrhea is a one-time intramuscular injection of the antibiotic ceftriaxone. Typically, you’ll get this shot in the buttocks. A healthcare professional will likely also prescribe an oral medication, such as: 

• a twice-daily dose of doxycycline for 7 Days  

The CDC previously recommended ceftriaxone plus Azithromycin, but the guidelines were changed   because the bacteria causing gonorrhea are becoming increasingly resistant to azithromycin.

After taking these antibiotics, you should begin to feel relief from any symptoms within days — but you’ll need to wait a full week after finishing your medications before participating in any sexual activity.

Everyone with gonorrhea needs treatment to stop the infection from progressing. The treatment typically involves  Antibiotics.

It is important to receive treatment as soon as possible. Doctors may not be able to treat complications that the infection has already caused.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a single dose of  500 milligrams  of intramuscular ceftriaxone (Rocephin). 

Doctors used to administer ceftriaxone plus a dose of azithromycin, but health authorities changed the guidelines in 2020. This is because the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, are becoming increasingly resistant to azithromycin.

There are  certain situations  in which a doctor might recommend a different treatment — for example, one that involves taking an oral antibiotic. In this case, it is crucial to take the full course of medication and avoid sharing it with anyone else.

 Antibiotic resistance is making gonorrhea increasingly difficult to treat. If a person does not notice any improvement in their symptoms after several days, they should return to their doctor for guidance. Further testing can determine whether the treatment is working.

It is important to attend any follow-up appointments and avoid having sex until a healthcare professional says that it is safe to do so.

If gonorrhea occurs during pregnancy, it is essential to let the healthcare team know. The infection can pass to the baby during delivery, so the newborn may need antibiotics right away.

Some newborns develop  Conjunctivitis , and gonorrhea is one possible cause. The symptoms usually appear2–4 days  after birth and include red eyes, thick pus  in the eyes, and swollen eyelids.

If any of these symptoms arise, seek medical attention immediately.

 

 Prevention

To reduce your gonorrhea risk:

·         Use a condom if you have sex. Abstaining from sex is the surest way to prevent gonorrhea. But if you choose to have sex, use a condom during any type of sexual contact, including anal sex, oral sex or vaginal sex.

·         Limit your number of sex partners.Being in a monogamous relationship in which neither partner has sex with anyone else can lower your risk.

·         Be sure you and your partner are tested for sexually transmitted infections. Before you have sex, get tested and share your results with each other.

·         Don't have sex with someone who appears to have a sexually transmitted infection. If your partner has signs or symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, such as burning during urination or a genital rash or sore, don't have sex with that person.

·         Consider regular gonorrhea screening. Annual screening is recommended for sexually active women younger than 25 and for older women at increased risk of infection. This includes women who have a new sex partner, more than one sex partner, a sex partner with other partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.

Regular screening is also recommended for men who have sex with men, as well as their partners.

Prevention Gonorrhea 

Researchers are working to develop a vaccine to prevent gonorrhea transmission. To date, though, no vaccine can prevent the infection. 

The safest way to prevent gonorrhea and other STIs is through. And of course, using a condom or other barrier method every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex can also help lower your risk of contracting many STIs. 

Another important step toward preventing STI transmission? Always have with new partners before beginning a sexual relationship. 

It’s also a good idea to check in with your current partner(s) about STI status and testing, and make sure to get tested regularly yourself.