What do gonorrhea

Find sexual health clinic contact details. If you have any of the symptoms of gonorrhoea or you're worried you may have an STI, you should visit a sexual health clinic for a sexual health test. Find a sexual health clinic. You can also contact the national sexual health helpline free on Gonorrhoea can be easily diagnosed by testing a sample of discharge picked up using a swab.

In men, testing a sample of urine can also diagnose the condition. It's important to get tested as soon as possible because gonorrhoea can lead to more serious long-term health problems if it's not treated, including pelvic inflammatory disease PID in women or infertility. Gonorrhoea is usually treated with a single antibiotic injection usually in the buttocks or thigh.

With effective treatment, most of your symptoms should improve within a few days. Basic Fact Sheet Detailed Version. Detailed fact sheets are intended for individuals with specific questions about sexually transmitted diseases. Detailed fact sheets include specific testing and treatment recommendations as well as citations so the reader can research the topic more in depth.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease STD caused by infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium.

Gonorrhea is a very common infectious disease. CDC estimates that approximately 1. Gonorrhea is transmitted through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected partner. Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted or acquired. Gonorrhea can also be spread perinatally from mother to baby during childbirth. People who have had gonorrhea and received treatment may be reinfected if they have sexual contact with a person infected with gonorrhea.

Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are among sexually active teenagers, young adults, and African Americans 2. Many men with gonorrhea are asymptomatic 3 , 4. When present, signs and symptoms of urethral infection in men include dysuria or a white, yellow, or green urethral discharge that usually appears one to fourteen days after infection 5.

In cases where urethral infection is complicated by epididymitis, men with gonorrhea may also complain of testicular or scrotal pain. Most women with gonorrhea are asymptomatic 6 , 7. Even when a woman has symptoms, they are often so mild and nonspecific that they are mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection 8 , 9. The initial symptoms and signs in women include dysuria, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods.

Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms. Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements Rectal infection also may be asymptomatic. Pharyngeal infection may cause a sore throat, but usually is asymptomatic 11 , In women, gonorrhea can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease PID.

The symptoms may be quite mild or can be very severe and can include abdominal pain and fever PID can lead to internal abscesses and chronic pelvic pain. PID can also damage the fallopian tubes enough to cause infertility or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. In men, gonorrhea may be complicated by epididymitis. In rare cases, this may lead to infertility If left untreated, gonorrhea can also spread to the blood and cause disseminated gonococcal infection DGI. This condition can be life threatening.

If a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, she may give the infection to her baby as the baby passes through the birth canal during delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby In females, gonorrhea can also infect the cervix.

Gonorrhea is most commonly spread during vaginal, oral or anal sex. But babies of infected mothers can be infected during childbirth. In babies, gonorrhea most commonly affects the eyes. Abstaining from sex, using a condom if you have sex and being in a mutually monogamous relationship are the best ways to prevent sexually transmitted infections.

The male reproductive system makes, stores and moves sperm. Testicles produce sperm. Fluid from the seminal vesicles and prostate gland combine with sperm to make semen. The penis ejaculates semen during sexual intercourse. The ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina vaginal canal make up the female reproductive system.

In many cases, gonorrhea infection causes no symptoms. Symptoms, however, can affect many sites in your body, but commonly appear in the genital tract. It cannot repair any problems that the infection has already caused, so it is important to receive treatment as soon as possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommend a single dose of milligrams of intramuscular ceftriaxone Rocephin and 1 gram of oral azithromycin Zithromax.

These are different types of antibiotics. The CDC urge people to take all the medication that a doctor prescribes and to avoid sharing it with anyone else.

However, Neisseria gonorrhoeae , the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, have developed resistance to nearly all the antibiotics that doctors have traditionally used to treat it. This resistance is making gonorrhea increasingly difficult to treat. If a person does not notice any improvement in their symptoms after several days, they should return to their healthcare provider. They may need further testing to determine whether the treatment is working. A person should also attend any follow-up appointments and avoid having sex until a healthcare provider says that it is safe to do so.

If gonorrhea occurs during pregnancy, it is essential to let the healthcare team know. The infection can pass on to the baby during delivery, so the newborn will usually need antibiotics right away. Some newborns develop conjunctivitis, and gonorrhea is one possible cause.

The symptoms usually appear 2—4 days after birth and include red eyes, thick pus in the eyes, and swollen eyelids. If any of these symptoms arise, seek medical attention immediately. They can also result from a more serious condition, such as meningitis or bacteremia.

Gonorrhea can pass from person to person through sexual contact that involves the penis, vagina, anus, or mouth.

Males do not need to ejaculate to transmit or contract gonorrhea. All sexually active people can develop gonorrhea. In the U. Which STIs can pass on through oral sex?