Understanding Gonorrhea

While the world is busy focusing on Covid-19, people continue to have sexual relations.

It is important that should people decide to engage in sex, it must be safe.

Having many sexual partners and engaging in unprotected sex exposes one to sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs), among them HIV.

This week we focus on one common STI: Gonorrhea.

It is an STI that can infect both men and women. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat.

It is a very common infection, especially among young people ages 15-24 years but people of any age can contract gonorrhea.

How is gonorrhea spread?

You can get gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has gonorrhea.

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A pregnant woman with gonorrhea can give the infection to her baby during childbirth.

How can I reduce my risk of getting gonorrhea?

The only way to avoid STIs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting gonorrhea:

• Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STI test results;
• Using latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.

Am I at risk of contracting gonorrhea?

Any sexually active person can get gonorrhea through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

If you are sexually active, have an honest and open talk with your health care provider and ask whether you should be tested for gonorrhea or other STIs.

If you are a sexually active women younger than 25 years or an older women with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection, you should be tested for gonorrhea every year.

I’m pregnant. How does gonorrhea affect my baby?

If you are pregnant and have gonorrhea, you can give the infection to your baby during delivery.

This can cause serious health problems for your baby. If you are pregnant, it is important that you talk to your health care provider so that you get the correct examination, testing, and treatment, as necessary.

Treating gonorrhea as soon as possible will make health complications for your baby less likely.

How do I know if I have gonorrhea?

Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all.

However, men who do have symptoms, may have:

• A burning sensation when urinating;
• A white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis;
• Painful or swollen testicles (although this is less common).

Most women with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they are often mild and can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection.

Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, even if they do not have any symptoms.

Symptoms in women can include:

• Painful or burning sensation when urinating;
• Increased vaginal discharge;
• Vaginal bleeding between periods.

Rectal infections may either cause no symptoms or cause symptoms in both men and women that may include:

• Discharge;
• Anal itching;
• Soreness;
• Bleeding;
• Painful bowel movements.

You should be examined by your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms or if your partner has an STI or symptoms of an STI, such as an unusual sore, a smelly discharge, burning when urinating, or bleeding between periods.

Can gonorrhea be cured?

Yes, gonorrhea can be cured with the right treatment. It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection.

Medication for gonorrhea should not be shared with anyone.

Although medication will stop the infection, it will not undo any permanent damage caused by the disease.

If your symptoms continue for more than a few days after receiving treatment, you should return to a health care provider to be checked again.

I was treated for gonorrhea. when can I have sex again?

You should wait seven days after finishing all medications before having sex.

To avoid getting infected with gonorrhea again or spreading gonorrhea to your partner(s), you and your sex partner(s) should avoid having sex until you have each completed treatment.

If you’ve had gonorrhea and took medicine in the past, you can still get infected again if you have unprotected sex with a person who has gonorrhea.

What happens if I do not get treated?

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

In women, untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Some of the complications of PID are:

• Formation of scar tissue that blocks fallopian tubes;
• Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb);
• Infertility (inability to get pregnant);
• Long-term pelvic/abdominal pain.

In men, gonorrhea can cause a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles.

In rare cases, this may cause a man to be sterile, or prevent him from being able to father a child.

Rarely, untreated gonorrhea can also spread to your blood or joints.

This condition can be life-threatening.

Untreated gonorrhea may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV

Continue to mask up, sanitise your hands, maintain social distance and avoid unnecessary travel to avoid the spread of Covid-19. – cdc.gov/std