Gonorrhea (The Clap) Also known as The Clap or Gonococcal infection or Gonococcal Urethritis
What is it?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This organism can cause infection in the mouth and throat associated with oral sex and even the eyes when it comes in contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes. The rectum is affected with anal sex. In women, it also can infect the reproductive system like the cervix, uterus and the fallopian tube‘s. It can also affect the urinary system to include urethra in both men and women. It can affect the male reproductive organ occasionally.
How many people get it in the US?
Gonorrhea has remained prevalent especially in younger people between ages 15 to 24. It is estimated by CDC that approximately 1.14 million new going to cook infections or cool in the US every year.
Symptoms
GONORRHEA IN WOMEN Most women infected with gonorrhea may have NO symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may be nonspecific, they may be mild, they may be mistaken for other vaginal infection or even bladder infection. The woman may complain of burning when urinating, increased vaginal discharge or even bleeding from vagina between menstrual periods. Any woman with gonorrhea infection runs the risk of developing complications as a result. GONORRHEA IN MEN: A lot of men may have NO symptoms at all. Some men may complain of burning during urination, or even green or yellow or white discharge from the penis. These symptoms may occur within two weeks after exposure. Gonorrhea infection maybe complicated by infection in the testicle, or scrotum or epididyimis leading to pain in these areas. I n people who perform or receive oral sex they can have pharyngeal infection which may either have no symptoms at all or sore throat. In people who have anal sex, they can have rectal infection. Again, they may have no symptoms or they may have rectal soreness, or discharge or anal itching or even pain during defecation or bowel movement.
How it's spread
TRUE OR FALSE? Ejaculation has to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted? The answer is FALSE. Gonorrhea is an STD transmitted by sexual contact with a sexual partner who is infected by gonorrhea. This contact will be with the mouth, vagina, penis or anus. All you need for transmission to occur is sexual contact with an infected individual. Gonorrhea can also be transmitted during childbirth from mother to baby. After treatment of gonorrhea, one needs to take precautions as reinfection can occur with another exposure to an infected individual or to the same infected individual. What are the risk factors for infection by gonorrhea? The highest infection rates are found amongst: 1. Sexually active teenagers. 2. Sexually active young adults. 3. Sexually active African-Americans. 4. Any sexually active person.
Treatment
Any sexually active person can have gonorrhea infection. People who have gonorrhea should be tested For other STDs as well. PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE TESTED FOR GONORRHEA: 1. Test anyone with genital symptoms like genital discharge, or burning during urination, genital sores (that are not usually present) or genital rash. 2. Test anyone with a sex partner (be it vaginal, oral or anal sex partner) that got diagnosed with any sexually transmitted disease (STD). 3. Any sexually active person can be screened whether they know of exposure or not. In fact yearly Gonorrhea Screening is recommended by CDC for: A. Sexually active women of 25 years of each and less. B. All women older than 25 which phrase factors such as: 1. People with multiple sex partners. 2. People with new sex partners. 3. People with a sex partner diagnosed with an STD. TESTING FOR GONORRHEA: This is usually done by culture or nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). Testing in women: can be done on the following samples, endocervical or vagina samples even urine or urethral swab specimen samples. Testing in men: can be done on the following samples, urine or urethral swab specimen sample. Testing and people who had oral sex: can be done by using pharyngeal swab. Testing and people who had anal sex: can be done but using rectal swab specimen. For more information please contact your healthcare provider or Visit www.stdassessment.com. TREATMENT OF GONORRHEA: Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics. Over time, we have noted increased resistance to antibiotics when treating gonorrhea. This is truly concerning. It is important that you finish your antibiotic prescribed for the cure of gonorrhea. It is also worthy to note that the medication would only cure the gonorrhea but any previously occurring damages by the disease will remain. If a person continues to have symptoms after treatment, please return to the healthcare provider. A person who has been diagnosed and or treated for gonorrhea should immediately inform all their sex partners within the last 8 to 10 weeks prior to Symptoms manifestation. This is so that they can also be evaluated and treated. For the avoidance of doubt, sex partners include oral sex partners, vagina sex partners and anal six partners. Informing sex partners helps to decrease reinfection of self and others as well as decrease the risk of developing harmful health complications for the sex partner. We advise NO sexual activity while on treatment to prevent reinfection or infection of the sexual partner(s). For more information, please contact your healthcare provider or visit www.stdassessment.com. PREVENTION OF GONORRHEA Mainly by practicing safe sex. 1. Condom, condom, condom! We advise latex condoms. Please, use it correctly and always. 2. Stay in a mutually monogamous relationship having made sure you and your partner are either not infected or have been tested negative for Gonorrhea or other STDs. 3. Abstinence from oral, vaginal or anal sex. For further information, please visit www.stdassessment.com or email help@stdassessment.com.
Possible consequences if left untreated
COMPLICATIONS OF GONORRHEA: If gonorrhea is not treated in both men and women, it can lead to harmful and serious consequences. IIN WOMEN: Gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID.). PID can occur when gonorrhea or any infection spreads to the women’s reproductive organs like the uterus and fallopian tube‘s. This can lead to chronic pelvic pain and even internal abscesses which may end up damaging the fallopian tube. This can lead to ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy occurring outside the womb) or Even lead to infertility. The woman may have mild symptoms or may complain of fever and abdominal pain. IN MEN: Gonorrhea can lead to infection in the epididymis which is a highly convoluted duct located behind the testes that allows for the passage of sperm. Occasionally, this may lead to male infertility. Also, untreated gonorrhea can spread into the bloodstream and carry the gonorrhea to everywhere in the body. This condition is considered life-threatening and it is called disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI ). The patient with this condition may have skin lesions, pain and swelling in the joints suggesting arthritis or inflammation of the tendons, tenosynovitis. If gonorrhea is untreated it can increase an individual’s risk for either transmitting or acquiring HIV/AIDS. PREGNANCY AND GONORRHEA: Gonorrhea in a pregnant woman should be treated as soon as possible as if left untreated the baby can get the infection through the birth canal at the time of delivery. Gonorrhea in newborn baby can lead to 1. Life-threatening bloodstream infection. 2. Blindness of the baby. 3. Joint infection.