Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD).
Causes
Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (urine canal) in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.
Risk Factors
Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are among sexually active teenagers, young adults, and African Americans.
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Multiple sex partners
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Age: 15-29
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Sexual intercourse with a partner who has a history of any STD
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Having sex without a condom
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History of having a sexually transmitted disease
Symptoms
Symptoms of gonorrhea range from absent to severe. If symptoms develop, they usually appear within 2-10 days after sexual contact with an infected partner. However, in some cases, symptoms do not occur for up to a month after exposure.
People with gonorrhea may experience some, all, or none of the following symptoms:
Men
Women
Men and Women
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Anal itching
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Soreness
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Bleeding
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Painful bowel movements
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Eye infections
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Blood infections
Diagnosis
Three tests are commonly used to diagnose gonorrhea:
Gram Stain
A smear of the discharge from the penis or cervix is placed on a slide and stained with a dye. A doctor examines it under a microscope for the presence of bacteria. This test is more accurate for men than women.
Nucleic Acid Probe Test
Discharge or urine is tested for substances called nucleic acids that specifically identify gonorrhea.
Laboratory Analysis
A smear of the discharge is taken and sent to the lab for culture. After two days, the culture is checked for growth of the bacteria that causes gonorrhea.
Treatment
If you have gonorrhea, your doctor may prescribe one of the following antibiotics:
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Ceftriaxone
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Cefixime
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Ciprofloxacin
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Ofloxacin
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Levofloxacin
It is important to take all of the medication as prescribed. All of your sexual partners should be tested and treated.
If gonorrhea is left untreated:
If gonorrhea is not treated, the consequences can be serious for both men and women, and can affect the following areas:
In Men
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Testicles: Gonorrhea may cause epididymitis, a painful condition of the testicles that may lead to infertility.
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Prostate: The prostate may be affected if gonorrhea is left untreated.
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Urethra: Gonorrhea can cause scarring on the inside of the urethra, which can create difficulty while urinating.
In Women
Reproductive organs: Gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious infection that can affect fertility. PID causes scar tissue to form in the fallopian tubes.
Prevention
The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.
Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of gonorrhea.
Any genital symptoms such as discharge or burning during urination or unusual sore or rash should be a signal to stop having sex and to see a doctor immediately. If a person has been diagnosed and treated for gonorrhea, he or she should notify all recent sex partners so they can see a health care provider and be treated. This will reduce the risk that the sex partners will develop serious complications from gonorrhea and will also reduce the person's risk of becoming re-infected. The person and all of his or her sex partners must avoid sex until they have completed their treatment for gonorrhea.
RESOURCES:
National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
http://www.cdc.gov/std/
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID)
http://www.niaid.nih.gov
References:
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH) website. Available at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov.
Gonococcal infections. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 17th ed. McGraw Hill; 2000.
Medline Plus website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gonorrhea.html.
CDC
