STI: All About Gonorrhea

What is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can affect both men and women and is transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

The bacteria can grow and multiply easily in warm, moist areas of the body such as the urethra, vagina, anus, throat and even eyes. If left untreated for a significant amount of time, the infection can travel from the genitals up through the reproductive tract, resulting in infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease (in women) or epididymitis (in men) leading to permanent difficulties with fertility.

How Do You Get Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection. It is typically transmitted through contact with infected fluids during sexual activity. This includes vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It can also pass from a pregnant woman to her baby during childbirth.

To prevent gonorrhea, practice safe sex. Use condoms, have sexual partners get tested for STIs, and either avoid sharing sex toys or wash them thoroughly after each use. It's also reassuring to know that gonorrhea cannot survive outside the body for long, so it's not spread by sharing utensils, towels, or toilets.

Symptoms of Gonorrhea

Many people with gonorrhea do not experience any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they typically appear within 2-14 days after exposure and can be mild and easily mistaken for other genital infections, like yeast infections.

Common symptoms of gonorrhea can include:

• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• Discomfort during sexual intercourse
• Vaginal bleeding outside of regular menstrual periods or after sex
• Discharge from the penis

If gonorrhea affects the rectum, throat, or eyes, it may cause irritation, discomfort, and discharge specific to those areas.

Treatment

Gonorrhea is curable with antibiotics. Treatment usually involves a single injection in the arm or oral pills. After finishing the antibiotic course, a follow-up test, known as a "test of cure," is often conducted a few days to weeks later to confirm the infection has been cleared. Treatment can vary if the infection is in a location other than the genital area.

The antibiotics used for treating gonorrhea have changed over the years due to increasing resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to various antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a dual therapy approach consisting of:

• Ceftriaxone: This is typically given as a single injection. Ceftriaxone is a cephalosporin antibiotic that is very effective at treating gonorrhea.
• Azithromycin or Doxycycline: These are given as oral medications. The CDC had recommended azithromycin or doxycycline to be used in combination with ceftriaxone.

It is important to take all of the medication prescribed to cure gonorrhea. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease.

If you're diagnosed with gonorrhea, it's crucial to inform your sexual partners so they can be treated too. This step is necessary for their well-being and to prevent you from becoming reinfected. After treatment, you should wait for 7 days before engaging in sexual activity or use a condom or dental dam to ensure the infection has been completely cleared.