Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (urine canal) in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.
The Center for Disease Control estimates that more than 700,000 persons in the U.S. get new gonorrheal infections each year. Only about half of these infections are reported to CDC.
• Vaginal intercourse
• Anal intercourse
• Oral Sex
• It can be transmitted from mother to fetus during birth
Most women do not have symptoms and in men, if they do have any, they usually appear two to five days after infection and can include:
In Women:
• yellowish or yellow-green vaginal discharge
• bleeding between menstrual cycles
• fever
• abdominal pain
• painful intercourse
• painful urination
• the urge to urinate more than usual
• vomiting
In Men
• Burning when urinating
• Discharge from the penis
• Painful or swollen testicles
A urine test or lab test (culture) of the secretions from the infected area (cervix, urethra, anus, throat).
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics.
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. Treatment of gonorrhea as soon as it is detected in pregnant women will reduce the risk of these complications. Pregnant women should consult a health care provider for appropriate examination, testing, and treatment, as necessary.
