It is becoming hard to abstain from sexual activity with random strangers as we are living in the internet era where a partner is just one click away. Because of this and lack of STD knowledge many individuals fall into the trap of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). STDs are highly contagious diseases that come in various forms and are caused by different types of pathogens and microorganisms. One such disease is Gonorrhea which ranks as the second most common STDs in the US after Chlamydia.
In this article, we explain in detail what Gonorrhea is, symptoms of Gonorrhea, and much more.
What are STDs?
STDs which are shortened form for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) which are also addressed as Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs) are highly infectious diseases that spread from person to person during sexual intimacy. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are more than 1 million new cases acquired every day across the globe.
STDs can cause symptoms around the genitals, mouth, or anywhere on the skin signaling that you have contracted an STD. If these symptoms are left undiagnosed, then it can lead to severe health complications in both men and women.
What is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria Gonorrhoeae or Gonococcus. This bacteria primarily attacks the wet and moist areas of your body like eyes, mucous membranes of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and the urethra/urinary tract in both women and men.
It is estimated that nearly 1.6 million new cases of Gonorrhea infections have been reported in the US in the year 2018 alone, as per Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.
3 Symptoms of Gonorrhea
Symptoms of Gonorrhea typically do not exhibit immediately after initial exposure. It may take around 15 days for the symptoms to appear. Some may don’t experience any symptoms at all until the infection progresses to the final stage. This is one of the prime reasons for widespread STD cases where partners unknowingly spread the disease.
The following are the 3 most commonly seen symptoms in men and women that is indicative of Gonorrhea infection –
1. Genital discharge
As the bacteria primarily attacks the genitals and urinary tract, it causes infection and you will notice unusual genital discharge which can be painful. The leak can be white, green, or yellowish in color.
2. Sore throat
Sore throat is most commonly associated with people who have oral sex. As the Gonorrhea bacteria travels from the genitals during sexual intercourse, it is highly possible of contracting an STD if you have oral sex with the infected person. As a consequence sore throat and pain while swallowing occurs.
3. Pain while urinating
This is one of the most commonly seen symptoms in most STDs including Chlamydia. The bacteria starts to manipulate in the urethra causing infection and when you pass urine, the salty water reacts with the bacteria resulting in a painful and/or burning sensation.
Along with the above symptoms, you can also see symptoms like fever, back pain, anal discharge, heavy menstrual bleedings (in women), swelling, sensitivity to light, and joint pain.
Is Gonorrhea Curable?
Unlike certain STDs like HIV which is caused by a virus that has no cure to date, Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that can be treated with medication and drugs if diagnosed at the right time.
It is always a good choice to get tested for Gonorrhea if you experience the above symptoms rather than sitting and hoping for the symptoms to go away. It is also worth noting that, even though the symptoms disappear or never appear it doesn’t mean that you are completely cured of Gonorrhea, the bacteria is still dormant and needs to be cleaned with antibiotics.
What Happens if Gonorrhea is Left Untreated?
Leaving STDs untreated can lead to severe long-term health complications such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) that affects the uterus and fallopian tubes in women. And in men, untreated gonorrhea for years can lead to epididymitis, an inflammatory condition in the tube present at the back of the testicle that stores and carries sperm. Both conditions can result in permanent reproductivity damage, i.e. infertility.
Women who are pregnant and have Gonorrhea infection can transmit the disease to their infant during normal delivery. However, this transmission is not possible in a C-section birth as contact with bacteria in the delivery passage is prevented.
Conclusion
It is highly recommended to get screened for STDs if you are above 16 years of age or having multiple sex partners to early detect any STD and avoid long-term consequences. Medical diagnostics partners like DxSaver.com have the best labs in their network that provide CLIA-certified results and at the same time make it affordable even for an uninsured person. Lead a healthy lifestyle by taking in a more fiber-rich diet and avoid unwanted contact/intimacies which can give you STDs.