What is gonorrhea and how to treat it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If the infection becomes chronic, joint damage or infertility may occur.

What is gonorrhea

Gonorrhea Gonorrhea, or gonorrhea, is a disease caused by the sexually transmitted bacteria of the gonococcus. They usually affect the urethra, rectum and throat, and in women, the cervix. WHO estimates that 98 million Gonorrhea are infected with gonorrhea every year.

How can you get gonorrhea?

The main route of infection is unprotected sex, and it can be anal or oral. The risk of infection is increased by Gonorrhea:

• when changing a partner;
• polygamous relationships;
• the presence of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

If a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, the baby can also become infected during childbirth.

What are the symptoms of gonorrhea

Very often, Gonorrhea infection proceeds without visible signs. In general, its manifestations depend on where the bacteria got to.

Gonorrhea of the genital tract

If a man is infected, then he may notice the following signs of Gonorrhea disease:

• pain when urinating;
• purulent discharge from the penis;
• swelling and soreness of one testicle.

The woman has slightly different symptoms of Gonorrhea:

• yellow or white vaginal discharge;
• pain when urinating;
• vaginal bleeding between periods, such as after sex
• pulling pains in the lower abdomen.

Rectal gonorrhea

Itching and burning appear in the anal area, purulent discharge. You may notice blood on the toilet paper after a bowel movement.

Pharyngeal gonorrhea

A person complains that he has a sore throat, sometimes the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged.

Eye gonorrhea

Purulent discharge collects in the corners, pain, increased sensitivity to light worries. One or both eyes may be affected.

Why is gonorrhea dangerous?

If the disease is left untreated, it can become chronic and lead to serious complications. This is Gonorrhea:

• Infertility in men. The infection causes inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis). If you do not pay attention to him, a man will not be able to have children.
• Infertility in women. If bacteria spread to the uterus and appendages, inflammation develops in them and adhesions form - proliferation of connective tissue. As a result, some are unable to conceive, while others develop an ectopic Gonorrhea pregnancy.
• Damage to other organs. The infection can get through the blood into the liver, heart, and brain. Gonorrhea and joints can be damaged. They swell, hurt, and the skin turns red.
• Increased risk of HIV infection. Gonorrhea makes a person more susceptible to infection.
• Diseases of newborns. If the baby becomes infected during childbirth, it may go blind and ulcers may develop on the scalp.

How is gonorrhea diagnosed?

To confirm the diagnosis with the Gonorrhea Test, the doctor must look for gonococcal DNA at the site of the suspected infection. To do this, they may be asked to pass urine, for men they will take a swab from the urethra, and for women - from the cervix. Sometimes swabs from the rectum, pharynx, or eyes are needed.

Most often, research is carried out on genital gonorrhea. You need to prepare a little for them in order for the result to be accurate.

How to prepare for analysis

You do not need to take antibiotics on your own before testing. And if, in addition to the smear, urine is taken, then you cannot go to the toilet 1-2 hours before the test.

Doctors advise Gonorrhea Test women not to douche or use any vaginal aids on the eve of being tested for gonorrhea.

How the test is done

To obtain a smear from the cervix, a woman sits on a chair, like a gynecologist. With a special small brush or spatula, the doctor takes a little mucus from the vagina and places it on the glass. Then this smear is sent to the laboratory.

In men, a sample is obtained with a small spoon or brush that is gently inserted into the urethra. This can be frustrating.

What to do if you find gonorrhea

The infection can be treated by a urologist for men or a gynecologist for women. But most often, people with STIs go to a venereologist. The doctor prescribes Gonorrhea antibiotics - a single shock dose or a course for several days.

It is necessary to take medications not only for the person who was found to have gonococci, but also for all his partners. It is forbidden to have sex at this time even with condoms. Usually doctors allow Gonorrhea to resume sexual activity a week after the last antibiotic dose.

After treatment, you will need to re-test for gonorrhea. If it is confirmed, the doctor may refer you to a study of the sensitivity of gonococci to antibiotics. To do this, a sample of the discharge will be taken from the person again.

But even if everything goes well, you cannot relax: immunity to gonorrhea is not formed, it can be infected again.

How not to get sick with gonorrhea

To never face STIs, follow Gonorrhea's simple guidelines:

• Use condoms during sex.
• Reduce the number of sexual partners or maintain a relationship with only one person.
• Avoid casual relationships.
• Even with a condom on, do not have sex with someone who has signs of an STI.
• Get tested for genital infections with your partner and repeat the diagnosis annually.