Gonorrhea
Treatment Duration
30
Suggested Sessions
2-3 times/year
What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by infection with the gonococcal bacteria (Neisseria gonorrhoeae).
It is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, affecting men and women alike.
In many people, gonorrhea has no symptoms, which is especially dangerous, because if not treated in time, it can cause serious and irreparable damage to the body.
Gonorrhea can affect different parts of the body, but most often the genital area/system.
Transmission
Gonorrhea can be transmitted by:
- Sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral)
- Contact with contaminated body fluids
- Normal childbirth from mother to newborn
Gonorrhea's most common symptom is mucous secretions from the urethra, which look like pus.
Symptoms
Gonorrhea often has no symptoms and this makes it more difficult to treat.
In many cases, however, the symptoms appear 2-10 days after infection with the gonococcal bacteria.
Woman
- White or greenish-yellow vaginal secretions
- Pain in the pelvic area or lower abdomen
- Burning sensation (stinging) when urinating
- Conjunctivitis (redness and itching in the eyes)
- Bleeding between menstrual periods
- Vaginitis (swelling of the vulva)
- Burning sensation in the throat or swollen glands
- Dryness, itching (itching), bleeding in the anus
- Pain during defecation
Άνδρας
- Greenish-yellow or white secretions of fluid from the penis
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Burning sensation in the throat or swollen glands
- Pain in the testicles
- Swelling in one or both testicles
- Dryness, itching, bleeding in the anus
- Pain during defecation
Often, the symptoms of gonorrhea appear within 2 to 10 days of infection, but sometimes it can take up to a month for us to become fully aware of them.
Diagnosis
For the correct diagnosis of gonorrhea, tests can be done depending on the body part which shows symptoms (genitals, anus, mouth).
Samples which will be sent for testing are taken from:
- Urine
- Throat & Mouth
- Anus
- Urethra
- Vulva
- Cervix
In many cases, gonorrhea is accompanied by chlamydia, another sexually transmitted disease with mild symptoms.
For this reason, when gonorrhea is diagnosed, the patient should be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases.
Gonorrhea can be treated, but the prescribed treatment should be taken consistently.
Treatment
The treatment of gonorrhea in recent years is more and more difficult, since it has been observed that some strains of gonococcus become particularly resistant to antibiotics.
For this reason, gonorrhea can be treated by administering:
Systemic medication
Injectable medication
In some cases the combination of the above methods of treatment is necessary.
If the symptoms persist for a few days after taking the medication, a revision by the venereologist is recommended.
Medication will stop the infection, but it can not reverse any permanent damage caused by gonorrhea.
Complications
If gonorrhea is not treated in time, it can cause permanent damage to the body, such as:
Infertility in women: Gonorrhea can progress and spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. In this case scarring occurs, as well as complications in pregnancy such as infertility
Infertility in men: Gonorrhea in men can cause inflammation of the epididymis. The epididymis is located on the back of the testicles, i.e. very close to the seminal vesicles. If left untreated, it can cause infertility.
Spread of the infection to other parts of the body: The gonorrhea bacterium, gonococcus, can travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, such as the joints and ligaments. In this case fever, skin rashes, sores, pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints and ligaments can often occur.
Complications in the health of infants: If a woman suffering from gonorrhea gives birth normally, then there is a risk of causing infections, wounds in the skull or even blindness to the baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I abstain from sexual activity?
The period of abstinence from sexual activity will be determined by the doctor and must be strictly followed to avoid infection of the partners. In addition, when gonorrhea is diagnosed, it is important for the patient to inform all partners with whom he or she has had sexual intercourse recently.
Should my sexual partner also be tested for gonorrhea?
Of course. Even if there are absolutely no symptoms, the partner of the gonorrhea patient should be examined and receive the same treatment to avoid re-infection.
What can I do in the future in terms of prevention?
Gonorrhea is caused by the gonococcal bacterium. Therefore, its treatment does not guarantee immunity to future infections. For this reason it is important to follow prevention methods for gonorrhea and of course for other sexually transmitted diseases. The best ways to prevent it are to use a condom in all forms of sexual intercourse, to limit sexual partners and of course to have regular screening for sexually transmitted diseases.