Gonorrhea
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionGonorrhea is a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI). CausesThe infection is caused by a bacteria. It spreads during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. It can also spread from a mother to her baby during birth. Risk FactorsGonorrhea is most common among sexually active young adults. Other things that raise your chances of getting it are having:
SymptomsMost people who have gonorrhea do not have symptoms. If they do happen, they may appear 1 to 14 days after exposure. In some cases, they do not happen for a month. Men may have:
Women may have:
Rectal symptoms in both men and women are:
Gonorrhea can cause serious health problems in both men and women. You will need to seek care.
Untreated gonorrhea can cause severe infections in:
DiagnosisYou will be asked about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. Diagnosis is based on: Your bodily fluids may be tested. This can be done with:
TreatmentGonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Some strains have resisted this them. You and your doctor will work together to find one that works for you. All of your sex partners should be tested and treated. Do not have sex until you and your partners are done with treatment and symptoms are gone. 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) Updated April 6, 2018. Accessed December 31, 2019.
Gonococcal cervicitis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed...
. Updated March 14, 2018. Accessed December 31, 2019.
Gonococcal urethritis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed...
. Updated March 14, 2018. Accessed December 31, 2019.
Gonorrhea. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at ...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated October 6, 2017. Accessed December 31, 2019. 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 2019 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG Last Updated: 12/31/2019 | |
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