What is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection that is also called "the clap". It is commonly found in teens and people aged 20-30. You can catch gonorrhea when you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Babies of infected mothers can be infected with gonorrhea during childbirth. 

 

How do I know if I have gonorrhea? 

You could have gonorrhea and not even know it. You may have no symptoms. Getting tested is the only way to know for sure. Get tested often. Left untreated, gonorrhea can cause serious health issues. 

Symptoms in women: 

  • Burning or pain when you pee

  • Smelly discharge from your vagina

  • Bleeding in between your periods or after sex

  • Pain in your abdomen or near your pelvis

 Symptoms in men: 

  • Burning or pain when you pee

  • White or green discharge from your penis

  • Swollen or painful testicles

Gonorrhea can also affect other parts of your body if the infection has spread. You may notice in your: 

  • Rectum- itching, pus-like discharge, blood on toilet paper when you wipe.

  • Eyes- pain, mild discharge from one or both eyes, sensitivity to light.

  • Throat- a sore throat, swollen glands or swollen lymph nodes.

  • Joints- warmth, swollen, bright red, and pain.

Who can get gonorrhea?  

Anyone sexually active can get it but women younger than 25 and men who have sex with men have a higher risk. Your risk goes up if you: 

  • Have more than one sex partner

  • Have a sex partner who has multiple other partners

  • Had gonorrhea in the past or another sexually transmitted infection

  • Don’t use protection during sex (or use it correctly)

 

Can gonorrhea be cured? 

Yes, with the right treatment, gonorrhea can be cured. According to the CDC, the best treatment is one dose of an intramuscular injection of 500mg ceftriaxone, as well as the oral antibiotic Azithromycin (Zithromax). These medications can stop the infection, but sadly can't repair any damage done by the disease. Many people with gonorrhea also have chlamydia, which is treatable too. 

According to the CDC, gonorrhea is becoming more resistant to antibiotics over time. This complicates the ability to treat gonorrhea. Re-infection is common, so even if you think you're cured, get tested again three months later. 

 

What if I don’t get tested or treated for gonorrhea? 

Left untreated, gonorrhea may cause long-term health problems for you. 

In men, complications can lead to: 

  • Infertility (infection near the testicles causing epididymitis)

  • Joint pain

  • HIV or AIDS

 In women, complications can lead to:

  • Infertility (infection can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing scar tissue)

  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)- which causes pelvic pain, heavy periods, and a foul vaginal discharge.

  • Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb)-This is life threatening to a mother and baby.

  • Passing the infection to your baby during delivery- can cause sores and blindness in the baby.

At NOVA Pregnancy Help Centers we offer free testing to patients for gonorrhea and chlamydia. If your test is positive, we will help you get free treatment to avoid health problems. We offer free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. Text or call us at 703-278-5433 (Fairfax) or 703-780-4700 (Alexandria).

Mai Bean