Other names: GC, Clap, Drip, Dose
What is it?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a kind of bacteria. It is one of the most well known sexually transmitted disease, but it is not as common as chlamydia, genital warts or herpes.
How is it spread?
Gonorrhea is spread through unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with an infected person. Sometimes, gonorrhea can be spread to the eyes by hands or direct contact with the infected fluids. It can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during birth. A person remains infectious until he or she is properly treated.
What are the symptoms?
Approximately 80% of women and 15-20% of men infected with gonorrhea have no symptoms. They can unknowingly pass the infection on to their sexual partner(s).
If present, symptoms may appear two to 10 days or up to six weeks after sexual contact with a person. Symptoms vary depending on which part of the body is infected.
Men may have yellowish-white discharge, or itching around the urethra. The urethra is the opening in the penis. Men may also have to pass urine more often and have pain when they do.
Women may have itching and more discharge from the vagina. They may also have to pass urine more often and have pain in the lower abdomen.
In both men and women, gonorrhea infection from oral sex may lead to a sore throat and swollen glands. Gonorrhea infection from anal sex may cause discharge from the anus.
How is it diagnosed?
Gonorrhea may be diagnosed by looking at the discharge from the urethra or vagina under a microscope. Swabs are also taken from the throat, cervix, urethra, or rectum for testing.
What are the complications?
Untreated gonorrhea in women may lead to a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease is also known as PID. It is a serious infection of the lining of the womb or uterus, the fallopian tubes and the ovaries. Sometimes the fallopian tubes of a woman with PID are blocked by scar tissue and her eggs cannot pass through. When this happens, she may not be able to get pregnant. If the fallopian tubes are only partly blocked so that sperm can pass through, she may end up with a pregnancy inside the fallopian tube. This is called an ectopic pregnancy. Women with untreated gonorrhea may also have miscarriages. Men with untreated gonorrhea may become sterile when the tubes carrying the sperm are blocked by scar tissue. Some men may have swelling and pain in their testicles, a condition called epididymitis.
In both men and women, untreated gonorrhea may occasionally lead to arthritis. Infants who are born to mothers with untreated gonorrhea may develop serious eye infections that could lead to blindness.
How is it treated?
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotic pills. The medication of choice is Cefixime 400 mg in a single dose. Sometimes gonorrhea is treated with an antibiotic injection. It is important that you complete the treatment as directed by your doctor or clinic.
If you have PID or epididymitis, you may need to go into a hospital and be treated with intravenous antibiotics.
What about sexual partners?
All sexual partners within the past three months should be examined and treated. If you have not had sex in the past three months, your last sexual partner should be examined and treated. Tell your partner(s) that having no symptoms does not mean there is no infection. Your public health nurse can help you to notify your partner(s). Your name will be kept confidential.
Is follow-up important?
It is a good idea to have a follow-up test one to two weeks after you have completed the treatment to make sure you are cured.
Remember:
Take all your medication as prescribed by your doctor or clinic.
Do not have oral, vaginal or anal sex while you and your sexual partner(s) are being treated.
You can get reinfected every time you have sex with an untreated partner.
Use condoms to lower the chance of getting STIs and to prevent pregnancy.
It is possible to have more than one infection at a time, so it is important to be tested for other STIs.
If you have more questions, contact Public Health Clinic Services at 519-355-1071 ext. 5901.
For more information contact Public Health Clinic Services at 519-355-1071 ext. 5901 or online at CKhealth@chatham-kent.ca
Adapted with permission from Elgin – St. Thomas Health Unit.