Gonorrhea is one of the most common STDs, popularly referred to as 'the clap.' This condition affects thousands every year. According to an estimate by the CDC, over 700,000 cases alone were reported in the United States for the year 2022. It is more commonly found among young adults and adolescents; in fact, prevalence among this particular age group, from 15-24 years, is significantly higher compared to other age groups. Though this disease is treatable, it can result in severe, even permanent damage if not treated in time.
05 October 2024
4 min read
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A Deep Dive into Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. If left untreated, this STD usually would affect the reproductive tracts of both men and women, though it might also spread to the rectum, eyes, throat, and mouth. It is usually spread by sexual contact with an infected person, but ejaculation is not required. A pregnant woman might pass the infection to her child during delivery.
Apart from sexual exposure, there are numerous individual factors that may heighten the risk of gonorrhea infection. These include an age between 15 and 24 years, having multiple sexual partners or having a partner who has multiple sexual partners, and having had any STD in the past, including prior gonorrhea.
Spectrum of Symptoms of Gonorrhea
Sometimes, gonorrhea is a silent infection, and symptoms never appear at all. When they do, symptoms typically emerge anywhere between 1 to 14 days following infection. Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea differ for both men and women.
Symptoms in Men
Common signs of gonorrhea infection in men include urethral discharge, foreskin inflammation, increased or painful urination, pain in the testicles, rectal discomfort, swollen lymph nodes of the neck, discomfort of the eyes, and swollen, warm, red joints.
Symptoms in Women
Abdominal pain, burning urination, difficulty swallowing, fever, joint pains, painful intercourse, swelling of vulva, vaginal discharge, abnormal bleeding, eye discomfort may occur in women.
Anal Gonorrhea Symptoms
Anal gonorrhea can cause pain, itching, bleeding with bowel movements, and anal discharge. The infection of infected fluids with the eye may result in a condition referred to as conjunctivitis, causing a burning sensation or itching of the eyes.
Possible Complications of Gonorrhea
If it is left untreated, gonorrhea can cause serious health complications through prompt diagnosis and proper treatment. Such complications in women include chronic pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancies. Men are at risk of epididymitis, which affects sperm production, possibly leading to infertility later on.
Both sexes risk life-threatening complications of untreated infection, such as arthritis, fever, sterility from tubal adhesions, tenosynovitis, dermatitis, meningitis, perihepatitis, and co-infection with chlamydia. Persons with active gonorrhea infection are also at increased risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV.
Gonorrhea can be passed from an infected woman to her infant during delivery. This can cause serious, long-term health problems for the infant, including blindness, joint complications, and a potentially life-threatening blood infection. Pregnant women with gonorrhea may also be at increased risk for premature labor and stillbirth.
Preventing Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea can be prevented by using the proper precautions. Abstinence from sexual intercourse, correct application of condoms for vaginal and anal intercourse, and dental dams for oral sex can certainly reduce the risks of acquiring the infection. All sexually active individuals and partners are advised to be tested periodically for the following STDs: gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS.
Diagnosis of Gonorrhea
Doctors always recommend an STD test in the case of symptoms of gonorrhea. In the diagnosis of gonorrhea, a swab sample is taken from the infected area or sometimes from urine. A swab may be taken from the throat, anus, urethra, cervix, or penis. One can even try the home STD testing kits available. If the reports of the test come out positive, the suffering patient and partner(s) must go for immediate treatment.
Gonorrhea is usually treated by dual therapy with the administration of antibiotics-injection-eftriaxone and oral medication-azithromycin. The patient and the sexual partner should refrain from having sex until the treatment is over, but in some instances, it will be indispensable to retest them one week after the initial treatment, especially if the infection was not that easy to treat. However, pregnant women with gonorrhea demand necessary care and attention towards the newborn to prevent the transmission of infection.
Follow Up Treatment of Gonorrhea
Follow-up after treatment is required in dealing with the disease. This means informing one's sexual partners of testing or treatment, re-testing after the course of antibiotics is over, and testing for other STDs, especially HIV and chlamydia. This is important to avoid reinfection and better handle one's sexual life.
While gonorrhea can be a common and severe STD, it is preventable and fully curable. It somewhat helps in controlling its spread, since awareness of the disease, its symptoms, and prevention methods ensures early diagnosis and treatment, hence quick recovery. Regular testing for sexually transmitted diseases and keeping open communication about sexual health with partners is one of the ways to manage gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases.
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