GONORRHEA
WHAT IS GONORRHEA?
Gonorrhea is a bacterial STD that both men and women can contract. If untreated it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women and in men it can lead to inflammation of the sperm-carrying ducts and inflammation of the urethra. Chlamydia has its highest contraction rates in men and women ages 15 to 24.
Gonorrhea rates are highest among adolescents and young adults in the US
HOW DO YOU GET GONORRHEA?
It is contracted through unprotected sexual contact. It can also infect the throat or rectum during oral or anal sex. An infant can also contract it from an infected mother in the birth canal during childbirth and can infect the infants eyes, which can cause blindness.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GONORRHEA?
Around half of men experience very mild symptoms are no symptoms. Most women do not experience any symptoms at all. If symptoms are felt they are different for males and females and are as follows:
Symptoms in men can include:
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Symptoms in women can include:
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HOW IS GONORRHEA DIAGNOSED?
Testing is done with a laboratory test on a urine sample or a small amount of fluid from the rectum, vagina, cervix, throat, or urethra.
HOW IS GONORRHEA TREATED?
To treat Chlamydia an infected person and their partner are given antibiotics. Drug resistance is a problem with this STD and there is currently only one class of antibiotics that treat Gonorrhea.