Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease. It is sometimes called the "clap", the "drip," or "GC." In the United States, approximately 75 percent of all reported gonorrhea is found in younger persons aged 15 to 29 years old. Gonorrhea can affect all parts of the body but it usually shows up first in the genital area.

Gonorrhea is caused by bacteria and is very contagious. The bacteria enters the body through any body opening such as the mouth, vagina or rectum. Gonorrhea is most often spread by sexual contact of the vagina, penis, mouth, or rectum. In men, gonorrhea usually starts as an infection of the urethra. The urethra is the tube that urine passes through. In women, gonorrhea usually affects the cervix first. The cervix is inside the vagina and is the opening into the uterus. For both men and women, gonorrhea can infect the throat or rectum after oral or anal contact.

You can have gonorrhea without having any obvious symptoms. When you do have symptoms, they usually appear within 2 to10 days after getting infected. Symptoms for men or women include a feeling of burning or pain while urinating or an urge to urinate frequently. After oral sex, a person may develop a sore throat. Men may have a yellowish white discharge from the penis, pain or swelling in the scrotum or testicles, or an inflamed anus or rectum.

In women, the early symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild and many women who are infected have no symptoms of infection. Even when a woman has symptoms, they may be mistaken for a bladder infection. Women may have a cloudy, yellow vaginal discharge that may have a bad odor, stomach pain, and abnormal menstrual bleeding. Women with no or mild gonorrhea symptoms are still at risk of developing serious complications from the infection. Gonorrhea may occasionally cause so few symptoms that a person does not realize they are infected.

Gonorrhea is diagnosed by a laboratory test. A sample of fluid is taken from the infected mucus area (vagina, urethra, rectum, or throat). Antibiotics are used to treat gonorrhea. Penicillin is usually not prescribed because many strains of gonorrhea have become resistant to penicillin.

People with gonorrhea should be screened for other STD infections. Because many people with gonorrhea also have chlamydia, antibiotics for both STD's are usually given. It is important to take all of the medicine until it is gone even if symptoms improve. A follow-up examination with your healthcare provider is needed 1 to 2 weeks after starting treatment to find out if all of the gonorrhea bacteria is gone. Sexual contact must be avoided until the provider tells you that you are cured. Remember, all your sexual partners must be treated too.

Gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent problems for both women and men. In women, gonorrhea is a common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This disease can cause pus pockets or abscesses in the female organs and long lasting pelvic pain. PID can cause damage to the fallopian tubes (egg canals) and can increase the chance of an ectopic pregnancy. Gonorrhea can cause infertility. In men, the urethra may scar and a man may not be able to urinate normally. A man may become sterile from gonorrhea and not be able to father children. In both men and women, gonorrhea can spread to the blood and joints. Gonorrhea can cause fever, arthritis, meningitis, and even death. Studies have found that people with gonorrhea can more easily contract HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

If a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, she may give the infection to her infant during childbirth. The baby may become blind, have joint infections, or a life-threatening blood infection. It is very important that pregnant women be treated for gonorrhea as soon as it is found.

Gonorrhea can be prevented by not having any sexual contact. If you are sexually active it is very important to practice safe sex and limit sexual contact to only one partner. Always use a latex condom during intercourse. Even if you do not have symptoms but have unprotected sex without a condom, see your healthcare provider to be checked for gonorrhea and other STD's. Remember, you can prevent the spread of gonorrhea by using a latex condom each time you have sex.

People are sometimes afraid to tell their sexual partner that they have a sexually transmitted disease. Although it is hard to talk about, it is necessary to do so. It is very important for all sexual partners to get treatment as well.

If you are not able to pay for medical care or treatment, you should still seek care. Most communities have free or low cost sexually transmitted disease clinics. If you think you may be infected with gonorrhea, seek help from your provider right away.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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