Gonorrhea
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionGonorrhea is a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can cause serious health problems. You will need to seek medical treatment. CausesThe infection is caused by a bacteria. It spreads during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. Someone with gonorrhea can also pass the infection to a baby during childbirth. Risk FactorsGonorrhea is most common among sexually active young adults. The risk of STIs is higher in those with:
SymptomsMost people who have gonorrhea do not have symptoms. If they do happen, they may appear 1 to 14 days after exposure. Some may not have symptoms for a month. Genital problems may include:
Rectal symptoms may be:
Untreated gonorrhea can cause severe infections in:
DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. A physical exam will be done. The doctor may suspect an STI based on symptoms. The testing may also be done as a screening test for those at high risk. A sample of fluids may be taken from one of the following:
TreatmentGonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. All sex partners should be tested and treated. Reinfection is possible and fairly common. It is important to take all antibiotics as recommended. Many forms of gonorrhea are resistant to common antibiotics. Other antibiotics will be tried to treat the infection. Testing will help to make sure treatment was successful and the infection has been stopped. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to damage of pelvic organs. This can cause problems with fertility, pregnancy, and disrupt urine flow. It can also cause painful sore and scarring. PreventionTo lower your chances of getting gonorrhea:
RESOURCES:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases http://www.niaid.nih.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES:Health Canada https://www.canada.ca Sex Information and Education Council of Canada http://www.sieccan.org References:Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed December 31, 2020. Gonococcal cervicitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed December 31, 2020. Gonococcal urethritis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed December 31, 2020. Gonorrhea. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed December 31, 2020. Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2014 Dec 16;161(12):902-10. Workowski KA, Berman S, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2010.
MMWR. 2010;59(No. RR-12):1-110. Last reviewed December 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG Last Updated: 12/31/2020 | |
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