What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea, also commonly referred to as “the
clap”, is an extremely contagious sexually
transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Neisseria
gonorrhoeae. The gonorrhea bacterium is spread through
sex and can infect various body parts including; the urethra,
cervix, rectum, throat, and eyes. Therefore, gonorrhea
can be spread through any type of unprotected sexual contact:
anal, oral or vaginal. It can also be passed to a
newborn during childbirth.
Gonorrhea is still a problem in Massachusetts. In addition,
the number of reported antibiotic resistant gonorrhea have
increased since 2003 and rectal gonorrhea cases in men
increased nearly 25% in 2003 and has held steady in 2004.
Factors known to increase the risk of contracting the disease
include:
- Age: sexually active people under 30 are most at risk
- History of : most commonly chlamydia
- Sexual activity: those who routinely have unprotected sex
and/or multiple sex partners
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What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
Symptoms of gonorrhea may include unusual yellowish
discharge or pain while urinating, anal itching, painful
bowel movements, blood or mucus on feces and sore throat.
Symptoms are likely to develop within two to ten days of
exposure, but up to 10% of men with urethral gonorrhea (gonorrhea
in the penis) will show no symptoms. And, even more unsettling
is the fact that the majority of men with infection of the
anus or throat will present with no symptoms. That is why
it’s so important
to get
tested if you think you’ve been exposed or if you
are sexually active.
Without treatment, gonorrhea can cause
painful swelling of the testicles and scrotum (balls) — this
condition, known as epididymitis,
can lead to infertility or chronic infection.
In extreme cases, gonorrhea can affect the brain, heart, and
joints. In addition, those with gonorrhea are also more
likely to acquire and transmit HIV infection.
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Why get tested?
Testing is easy and safe. By getting tested regularly
(every 6 months) you can get treatment before gonorrhea spreads
to other parts of your body. You’ll also be protecting
your sexual partners and the Boston community.
There are a couple of testing options:
- Visit a testing
site for free or low-cost testing
- Get tested at your own health care provider's office or
health center
Diagnosis of gonorrhea can be made by several tests, including
a urine sample test. Depending upon your sexual behaviors, you
may need additional cultures of your throat or anus
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How is gonorrhea treated?
Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics, usually
given as a shot. Pills may also be given in one dose.
Follow
up visits are recommended to make sure the infection is gone.
It’s
important to know that those who have contracted and been treated for gonorrhea
are not resistant and may become infected again.
If you are HIV-positive or
your immune system is compromised for any reason, the infection
may be more difficult to treat and you should see your health
care provider regularly.
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How can I protect myself and my partners from gonorrhea?
If you are sexually active, make STD
testing part of your routine. In addition, use condoms,
consider limiting the number of sexual partners and know each
partner’s sexual history.
If you are infected, you should not have sex until you are completely
cured. All your current sexual partners need to be tested
and treated if exposed – it’s easy to be reinfected.
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What do I need to know about gonorrhea and HIV?
It’s important for everyone to know that gonorrhea makes it much
more likely to acquire or transmit HIV infection.
If you are HIV-positive and think you’ve been exposed,
you should get
tested and get treatment right away.
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