I Don't Want Your Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and in the urethra in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.

Cause:

·         Gonorrhea is spread through contact with a penis, vagina, mouth, or anus where the bacterium is present.

·         Ejaculation does not have to occur for it to be spread.

·         It can also be spread from a mother to her newborn during birth.

Symptoms:

·         Most people do not have any symptoms that they are infected.

·         Men will feel a burning sensation when urinating due to the bacteria blocking the urethra

·         White, yellow, or green discharge from the penis or vagina in women may occur.

·          Sometimes men with gonorrhea get painful or swollen testicles.

·         Women can have vaginal bleeding between periods.

·         Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms.

·         Symptoms can appear one to fourteen days after infection, if they show up at all.

Untreated Repercussions:

·         Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both women and men.

·         In women, gonorrhea is a common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). 750,000 women each year in the United States develop PID.

·         In men, gonorrhea can cause epididymitis, a painful condition that may lead to infertility if left untreated.

·         Gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints. This condition can be life threatening.

·         People with gonorrhea can more easily contract HIV.

Effects on Newborns:

·         Can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby.

Treatment:

·         Antibiotics can successfully cure gonorrhea in adolescents and adults.

·         Drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea are increasing in many areas of the world, including the United States, and successful treatment of gonorrhea is becoming more difficult.

(drug resistant strain of gonorrhea)

·         Is important to take all of the medication prescribed to cure gonorrhea.

·         Doxycycline is used to treat gonorrhea

Prevention:

·         The surest way is to abstain from sexual intercourse

·         Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of gonorrhea.

·         Long-term mutually monogamous relationships with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

 

Marquell Houghton

http://cdc.gov/std/Gonorrhea/STDFact-gonorrhea.htm