Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that can cause reproductive problems in both men and women, including infertility. It is also a common STI that can be transmitted via vaginal, oral, and anal sex. In this article, you will learn more about gonorrhea, its symptoms, and how to safely prevent it.
What Is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that can affect both men and women. Although many cases are asymptomatic, gonorrhea can cause pain and bleeding in the genitals, as well as lower abdominal pain. Gonorrhea is spread from person to person by sexual contact or contact with infected fluids. If you have gonorrhea, then you have had oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone who has gonorrhea. The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can also infect your rectum.
Common Gonorrhea Symptoms
If you have symptoms that suggest you have gonorrhea, such as a burning sensation when you urinate or pain in your genitals, see your doctor. It’s essential to get tested for gonorrhea and other STIs as often as possible. That’s because gonorrhea can change over time. And if left untreated, the bacteria can infect the blood and other parts of the body.
How Can You Get Infected?
As well as the most common way of contracting gonorrhea when you have sex; you can also get infected when coming into contact with infected fluids. However, the bacteria can only live outside the body for a short time, approximately one minute. If you think you may have gonorrhea, you should see a health care provider right away. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to severe and irreversible consequences; these include severe pain during urination, infertility, and bleeding. Additionally, if you are infected while pregnant, gonorrhea can be transmitted to the baby.
Testing For Gonorrhea
Symptoms of gonorrhoea may vary from person to person, with some people experiencing no symptoms while others have a severe reaction, but gonorrhea can have serious consequences if not diagnosed and treated promptly. To diagnose the infection, your doctor will perform a variety of tests; these may include testing your urine, testing your blood, or by swabbing your genitals, throat, or rectum from fluids. Once the gonorrhoea screening has been conducted by your doctor, you can typically expect to get the results back within a few days; however, this can vary depending on your doctor.
Treating Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. However, Like many other STIs, gonorrhea is becoming resistant to many of the available antibiotics. As a result, many experts have called for a change in the way the infection is treated. The standard treatment for gonorrhea is a combination of antibiotics.
Conclusion
Gonorrhea is a highly contagious STI but it is curable with antibiotics but can have serious long-term consequences if left untreated. If left untreated, gonorrhea can cause severe complications and can lead to sterility. Regular screening is the best way to ensure that you catch gonorrhea early, as many people with this STI don’t have any symptoms, which means it can go unnoticed.