Gonorrhea – Just the Facts
What is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a bacterial Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) that can infect both men and women that can occur in the genitals, rectum or throat. It is one of the more common STDs because many who are infected don’t know it and pass it on to their partners.
How can I get Gonorrhea?
You can get Gonorrhea by engaging in vaginal, oral or anal sex with someone who already has it. If your sex partner is male, you can get it even if they don’t ejaculate.
Am I at risk?
Any sexually active person can get Gonorrhea when they engage in sex with someone who has it.
Can it affect my baby if I’m pregnant?
If you are pregnant and have Gonorrhea, you can pass the infection to your baby during delivery. This can result in serious health problems for your baby during childbirth and beyond. If you are pregnant, getting tested and treated as soon as possible can reduce the risk for your baby.
Common symptoms of Gonorrhea
Often there are no symptoms present in those infected with Gonorrhea. If there are symptoms, they differ in men and women.
Symptoms in men:
- White, yellow or green discharge from penis
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Painful or enlarged testicles (less common)
Symptoms in women: (Most women do not have symptoms, and when they do have them they can easily be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection.)
- Painful or burning sensation when urinating
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Unusual vaginal bleeding between periods
Rectal Infections:
- Discharge
- Itching
- Soreness
- Bleeding
- Pain during bowel movements
How can I know if I’m infected?
Getting tested is the only way to know for sure. If you are showing any symptoms, or think you are at risk, you should get tested. A simple urine test is the most common way to test for Gonorrhea.
Can Gonorrhea be cured?
With proper treatment Gonorrhea can be cured once diagnosed. At Collage, once Gonorrhea is diagnosed, we treat it with one oral dose of antibiotic and one shot. It can also be treated with a prescription that is taken over several days. If you are given a prescription, it is important for you to take all medication prescribed to cure the infection and that you not share your medication with anyone else. Medication can stop the infection, but it cannot undo any permanent damage caused by the disease.
What if I don’t get treated?
If untreated, not only will you spread the disease if you continue to be sexually active, but it can have lasting affects on your health. In women, the disease can progress and cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID can result in the formation of scar tissue that block the fallopian tubes, an ectopic pregnancy, infertility and long-term pelvic and/or abdominal pain. In men, it can cause a pain in the tubes attached to the testicles and sterility. Left untreated it may also increase your risk of getting HIV.
At Collage we care about you and want you to have all the information you need to take care of yourself when it comes to your sexual health. If you think you might have Gonorrhea, we offer complimentary STD testing and treatment at no cost to you. We’d love to have you come in for a test and to answer any questions you may have.
