Gonorrhea
What is it?
Also known as “the clap”, gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria that grows and multiplies in warm, moist areas of the body including: the female reproductive tract (cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and urethra), anus, mouth, throat, and eyes. This bacteria causes inflammation which if left untreated can make you sterile (i.e, unable to conceive children).
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
FOR MEN (penis infections)
Þ Usually have no symptoms when first infected
Þ Can take up to 30 days for symptoms to appear
Þ Common symptoms include:
o Burning sensation during urination
o Pale yellow discharge from penis
o Painful or swollen testicles
FOR WOMEN (vaginal infections)
Þ Early symptoms are often mild & mistaken for a UTI
Þ Many have no symptoms at all
Þ Common symptoms include:
o Burning sensation during urination
o Yellow or bloody vaginal discharge
FOR BOTH
Þ Oral infection: often no symptoms, sore throat is possible.
Þ Rectal infection: often no symptoms, painful bowel movements or rectal discharge of pus and/or blood.
Þ Generalized infection: rash and joint pains if it spreads to the bloodstream.
How do I get it?
Gonorrhea is spread by having unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone who is infected. It can also be spread from one part of your body to another. For example, rectal infections can occur in women when infected vaginal secretions come in contact with the anus. Gonorrhea can also be spread when people share sex toys and through manual stimulation. For example, if one person touches their own genitals and then touches their partners’.
How do I get tested for it?
Testing for gonorrhea can be done with a urine test or swab sample. If the infection is in the cervix or urethra, a urine sample is taken. For men, a urine sample collected first morning urine is the most accurate. Many clinics, including Queen’s Student Health, will give you a collection cup to take home to collect a sample when you first wake up. If the infection is in the anus or throat a swab sample is taken.
CAUTION: Gonorrhea usually exists with other infections such as Chlamydia so get tested for other STIs.
What happens if it’s not treated?
Gonorrhea can cause SERIOUS health consequences for women including:
Þ Increased risk of getting or spreading HIV/AIDS
Þ Developing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Þ Spreading of inflammation to the blood, joints, and/or heart
How is it treated?
Gonorrhea can be treated with a single dose antibiotic. Oral and rectal gonorrhea may be more difficult to treat and may require additional medication for treatment. Follow all the treatment as instructed and abstain from sex until follow-up tests show negative results.
Follow-up tests:
FOR MEN
Þ Done 1 week after treatment is finished
FOR WOMEN
Þ If the original test was POSITIVE - 2 follow-up tests should be done:
o The first one week after treatment
o The second two weeks after treatment
o Ideally, one of the tests should be done following a menstrual period.
How do I prevent it?
Þ ABSTINENCE – it is the ONLY 100% effective method of STI protection
o Abstain from penis-vagina and penis-anus intercourse, oral sex, mutual masturbation, and sharing sex toys
Þ Use barrier methods (i.e., condoms and dental dams) during all sexual activities
CAUTION: Having gonorrhea once does NOT mean you are immune to getting it again! Get tested often if you are sexually active with multiple partners.
