Gonorrhea

gonorrhea

Definition

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can infect both men and women, causing infections in the genitals, rectum and throat; It is a very common infection especially in young people aged 15 to 24 years.

You may get gonorrhea by having anal, vaginal or oral sex with a person who has this disease. A pregnant woman with gonorrhea can also transmit the baby during childbirth.

Symptoms

It is probable that a person infected with gonorrhea does not present any symptoms, however, the ones that may be manifested are the following:

  • Burning sensation when urinating.
  • White, yellow or green secretion out of the penis.
  • Odor and swelling in the testicles.
  • Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods.

Prevention

Gonorrhea can be avoided if certain prevention measures are taken, such as:

  • Refrain from having sex.
  • Practice monogamy with a partner who has tested negative for STDs.

Causes

Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Gonorrhoeae. Gonorrhea bacteria are most commonly transmitted from one person to another during sexual contact, including oral, anal or vaginal sex. Some of the risk factors are:

  • Young age.
  • New sexual partner.
  • Multiple sexual partners.

Treatment

Many different antibiotics can be used to treat this infection.

– Receive a dose of oral antibiotics or take a small dose for 7 days.

– In some cases an antibiotic is given in injection and pills are subsequently prescribed.

There are cases of seriousness in which hospitalization may be required, as in the case of Pulmonary PID. It must be taken into account that approximately half of women with

Gonorrhea are also infected with chlamydia; It is not to be alarmed, since chlamydia is treated at the same time as the infection of gonorrhea.

If there is a sexual partner, both should be examined to try to avoid the transmission of the infection in a reciprocal way; Condoms should be used until both have finished taking the antibiotic. Likewise, all contacts of the person with gonorrhea must be located and examined

in order to help preventing the further spread of this disease.

In any case, it is advisable not to self-medicate until being attended by a doctor. If symptoms persist after treatment, a control visit should be performed 7 days later.