What is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is an infection caused by a certain kind of bacteria. Gonorrhea is a very common and curable STD. It’s passed on by having vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Gonorrhea is also known as “the clap” or the “drip”. Gonorrhea is a common and curable STD and according to the CDC it infects about 700,000 men and women in the United States every year. If gonorrhea is left untreated it can cause serious health risks.
What are the signs or symptoms of Gonorrhea?
The symptoms of gonorrhea in both men and women are often mild or not detectable at all. that is why it is very possible that you and your partner are not aware that you have gonorrhea.
Symptoms for women include: • Belly pain • bleeding between menstrual periods • fever • irregular menstruation’s • painful intercourse • painful urination • swelling or tenderness of the vulva • the urge to urinate more than usual • throwing up • unusual vaginal discharge
Symptoms for men include: • discharge from the penis • pain urinating • more frequent urination than usual
How is gonorrhea passed on?
Gonorrhea is passed on by vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Gonorrhea can also be passed on from mother to baby during birth.
The best way to protect yourself from gonorrhea or any other STD is using a condom every time have anal, oral, or vaginal sex.
The Gonorrhea Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) Test is performed on a urine sample and is offered in our comprehensive STD Panel and Chlamydia + Gonorrhea Panel or as an individual test. This test is highly recommended by the CDC for its accuracy.in order to get the most accurate test results it is best not to urinate 1 hr before coming to our facility.
Can gonorrhea be cured?
Yes. Gonorrhea can be cured by an antibiotic treatment which will kill the bacteria. your health care provider can supply you with a prescription.
Both you and your partner must be treated for gonorrhea before you have sex again; This way you can avoid becoming infected again. some health care providers will give you medicine to take home for your partner(s) as well.
It is important to always follow the instructions of your healthcare provider.It is very common for people who have been diagnosed with gonorrhea to be infected with Chlamydia as well. therefore, we recommend you to take the Chlamydia+Gonorrhea Panel. This way your healthcare provider can treat you for both STD’s at the same time.
What can happen if I don’t get it treated?
For men, untreated gonorrhea may lead to a painful infection of the testicles. one out of five men with untreated gonerrhea will this infection which can lead to infertility. Other effects of gonorrhea in men can be: inflammation of the prostate and urethral scarring.
In women, if not treated, gonorrhea can cause Pelvis inflammatory disease (PID). one out of five women with untreated gonorrhea will develop PID. This can lead to potentially dangerous tubal pregnancy or affect the ability of the women to get pregnant.