Gonorrhea, also known as the clap, is a common sexually transmitted disease. The infection can affect many parts of the body, but it usually shows up first in the genital area.
Gonorrhea is caused by bacteria and is very contagious. The bacteria can enter the body through any body opening, such as the mouth, vagina, penis, or rectum. The infection is passed from person to person during sex.
In men, the infection usually starts in the urethra. The urethra is the tube that urine passes through. In women, the infection usually starts in the cervix. The cervix is the opening of the uterus inside the vagina. The bacteria may infect the throat or rectum after oral or anal sex. A baby can be infected during childbirth if the mother has gonorrhea. When the baby passes through the birth canal, the bacteria can get into and infect the baby's eyes. If gonorrhea is not treated, it can spread to other organs, such as the uterus and testicles, and cause serious problems, including infertility, which means that you would not be able to have children.
You can have gonorrhea without having any obvious symptoms. When you do have symptoms, they usually appear within 2 to 10údays after you are infected. Symptoms you may have are:
Men may have a thick, yellow discharge from the penis. Women may have:
If a baby gets gonorrhea during childbirth, one or both of the baby's eyes become severely inflamed.
If you think you may have gonorrhea, you must see your healthcare provider. The infection is diagnosed with a lab test of urine or discharge from the cervix or penis.
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics, taken by mouth or given as a shot.
Follow the full treatment prescribed by your provider. This includes taking all of your medicine for as long as it is prescribed even if your symptoms are gone before you have finished taking it.
Tell everyone with whom you have had sex in the last 3 months about your infection. They must also be treated, even if they have no symptoms. Do not have sex until both you and your partner have finished all of the medicine and your provider says it's OK.
Follow your provider's instructions for follow-up visits and tests. Your provider will need to make sure that the infection is gone. Call your provider if you feel you are getting sicker instead of better.
To reduce the risk of gonorrhea, always use latex or polyurethane condoms during foreplay and sexual intercourse.
Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File INF4512F.HTM Release 9.0/2006
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