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Gonorrhea is caused by a bacteria which is found mainly in the semen and vaginal fluids of men and women who have the infection. Gonorrhea is easily passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Anyone who is sexually active can get it and pass it on. You don’t need to have lots of sexual partners.

Passing of Gonorrhea:

Gonorrhea is usually passed from one person to another during sex. The bacteria can live inside the cells of the cervix (entrance to the womb), the urethra (tube where urine comes out), the rectum, the throat and occasionally the eyes. You can become infected with gonorrhea if you come into contact with infected semen or infected discharge from the vagina, throat or rectum.

Gonorrhea can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby.

In women it is possible for the bacteria to spread in the vaginal secretions, to the rectum.

Gonorrhea bacteria that come into contact with the eye can cause conjunctivitis. This is uncommon in adults.

It is not clear if gonorrhea can be spread by transferring the bacteria to another person’s genitals on the fingers or through rubbing vulvas (female genitals) together.

You cannot catch chlamydia from kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery.

Signs and symptoms:

About ten per cent of infected men and 50 per cent of infected women will not have any obvious signs or symptoms. Signs and symptoms can show up 1–14 days after coming into contact with gonorrhea, many months later, or not until the infection spreads to other parts of your body. You might notice:

Women

o	An unusual vaginal discharge which may be thin or watery, yellow or green.
o	Pain when passing urine.
o	Lower abdominal pain or tenderness.
o	Bleeding between periods or heavier periods (including women who are using hormonal contraception).

Men

o	An unusual discharge from the tip of the penis – the discharge may be white, yellow or green.
o	Pain when passing urine.
o	Pain or tenderness in the testicles.
o	Inflammation of the foreskin (less common).

Men & Women

o	Infection in the rectum. This does not usually have any signs and symptoms but may cause anal pain, discomfort or discharge.
o	Infection in the throat. This usually has no symptoms.
o	Infection in the eyes. This can cause pain, swelling, irritation and discharge (conjunctivitis).

Treatment for Gonorrhea:

The treatment for gonorrhea is antibiotics. The treatment is at least 95 per cent effective.

Early treatment of gonorrhea involves taking a single dose of antibiotic tablet(s) or having one antibiotic injection.

If there is a high chance you have the infection, treatment may be started before the results of the test are back. You will always be given treatment if your partner is found to have gonorrhea.

You may also need other treatment if complications have occurred.

The antibiotics that are used to treat gonorrhea interact with methods of contraception that contain estrogen and progestogen (for example, the combined contraceptive pill and contraceptive patch). Tell the doctor or nurse if you are using these methods so they can advise you on how to ensure you are protected from pregnancy.

There is no evidence that complementary therapies can cure gonorrhea.

What happens if gonorrhea isn't treated?

If gonorrhea is treated early it is unlikely to cause any long term problems. Not everyone who has gonorrhea has complications. However, without effective treatment the infection can spread to other parts of the body. The more times you have gonorrhea the more likely you are to get complications.

In women, gonorrhea can spread to other reproductive organs causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This can lead to long-term pelvic pain, blocked fallopian tubes, infertility and ectopic pregnancy (when the pregnancy develops outside the womb).

In men, gonorrhea can lead to a painful infection in the testicles and prostate gland and possibly reduced fertility.

Less commonly, gonorrhea can cause inflammation of the joints and tendons, and skin lesions.

Rarely, gonorrhea can also cause inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and the heart.

Can gonorrhea go away without treatment?

It can but it is unlikely. The infection may be there for many months before it goes away and without treatment you cannot be sure when or if it will go away. If you delay seeking treatment you risk the infection causing long-term damage and you may pass the infection on to someone else.

How soon can I have sex again?

It is strongly advised that you do not have vaginal, anal or oral sex until you and your partner have both had treatment, otherwise you could be reinfected or pass the infection on to someone else. You will need to avoid sex for seven days after you have had the treatment. If it is not possible to avoid sex, make sure that you use a condom.

How will I know if the gonorrhea has affected my fertility?

Gonorrhea is just one of many factors that can affect fertility in mean and women. Many men and women who have had gonorrhea will not become infertile and many women will not have an ectopic pregnancy. If you have had gonorrhea it is still important to use contraception if you want to avoid pregnancy. You should not assume you are infertile. You will not normally be offered any routine tests to see if you are fertile unless you or your partner are having difficulty in getting pregnant. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor or practice nurse.

What happens if I get gonorrhea when I’m pregnant?

Gonorrhea can be passed to the baby during childbirth. This can cause inflammation and discharge in the baby’s eyes (conjunctivitis). Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics when you are pregnant or when you are breastfeeding – the antibiotics won’t harm the baby.

Protect yourself from gonorrhea:

Use condoms (male or female) every time you have vaginal or anal sex.

If you have oral sex, cover the penis with a condom or the anal area and female genitals with a latex or polyurethane (plastic) square (dam).

These measures can also help to protect you from some other STIs such as HIV, and Chlamydia. If you have gonorrhea without knowing it they will also help prevent you from passing it on to a partner.

Source: Website of FPA (Family Planning Association) of UK

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