Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by the N. gonorrhea bacteria.
Important facts
Untreated gonorrhea can cause sterility, arthritis and heart problems
In women, gonorrhea can cause PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) which can lead to ectopic pregnancy or sterility
During pregnancy, gonorrhea can cause premature labor or stillbirth
The CDCP estimates 600,000 new cases of gonorrhea occur each year.
Common symptoms
Eighty percent of women and ten percent of men with gonorrhea have no symptoms
If symptoms appear, they appear in women within 10 days. It takes from 1-14 days for symptoms to appear in men.
Symptoms for women arefrequent, often burning urination, menstrual irregularities, pelvic or lower abdominal pain, pain during sex or pelvic examination, a yellowish or yellow-green discharge from the vagina, swelling or tenderness of the vulva
Symptoms for men are a pus-like discharge from the urethra or pain during urination
How gonorrhea is spread:
Through vaginal, anal or oral intercourse
Infants can also be infected with gonorrhea from exposure to the bacteria as the pass through the cervical opening
Diagnosis
Microscopic examination of urethral or vaginal discharges
Cultures taken from the cervix, throat, urethra, or rectum
Treatment
Oral antibiotics ( ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, cefixime) are generally given to treat gonorrhea
It is important to note that individuals with gonorrhea often also have chlamydia If this is the case both infections must be treated at the same time
It is important that the individual's sexual partners also be treated for infection.
Protection and prevention
Condoms and other forms of latex offer good protection against gonorrhea
Hudson Health Center Athens, Ohio 45701 T: (740) 593-1660
