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Gonorrhea
Overview
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection or disease caused by bacteria. Sexually transmitted diseases are infections spread primarily through contact with genitals or bodily fluids. Sexually transmitted infections, also called venereal diseases, are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
Gonorrhea bacteria can also infect the urethra, rectum, female reproductive tract, mouth, throat, or eyes. Gonorrhea is usually transmitted during vaginal, oral, or anal sexual activity. However, babies can become infected during birth. In babies, gonorrhea most commonly affects the eyes.
Avoiding sexual intercourse is one way to prevent the spread of gonorrhea. Using condoms during sexual activity helps prevent the spread of gonorrhea. Mutually monogamous relationships, in which both partners have sex only with each other and neither partner is infected, also limit the risk of infection.
Symptoms
In many people, gonorrhea infection causes no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually affect the genital tract, but they can also appear in other places.
Gonorrhea affects the genital tract
Symptoms of gonorrhea infection in men include the following:
Painful urination.
Pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis.
Pain or swelling in one testicle.
Symptoms of gonorrhea infection in women include the following:
Increased vaginal discharge.
Painful urination.
Vaginal bleeding between periods, for example, after vaginal intercourse.
Abdominal or pelvic pain.
Gonorrhea in other parts of the body
Gonorrhea can also affect these parts of the body:
Rect. Symptoms include anal itching, pus-like discharge from the rectum, bright red blood stains on toilet paper, and straining during bowel movements.
Eyes. Gonorrhea affecting the eyes can cause eye pain, sensitivity to light, and a pus-like discharge from one or both eyes.
Throat. Symptoms of a throat infection may include a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Joints. If one or more joints become infected, the affected joints may be warm, red, swollen, and extremely painful, especially during movement. This condition is known as septic arthritis.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your healthcare professional if you notice symptoms such as a burning sensation when urinating or a pus-like discharge from the penis, vagina, or rectum.
Also make a medical appointment if your partner has been diagnosed with gonorrhea. You may not have symptoms, but if you have the infection, you can re-infect your partner even after they have been treated for gonorrhea.
Causes
Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Gonorrhea bacteria are almost always passed from one person to another during sexual contact, including oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
Risk factors
Sexually active women under 25 years of age and men who have sex with men are at higher risk of getting gonorrhea.
Other factors that may increase the risk include:
Having a new sexual partner.
Having a sexual partner who has other partners.
Having more than one sexual partner.
Having had gonorrhea or another sexually transmitted infection.
Complications
Untreated gonorrhea can lead to serious complications such as:
Infertility in women. Gonorrhea can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease can cause scarring of the tubes, increased risk of pregnancy complications, and infertility. Pelvic inflammatory disease requires immediate treatment.
Infertility in men. Gonorrhea can cause inflammation of the epididymis, the coiled tube at the top and back of the testicles that stores and transports sperm. This inflammation is known as epididymitis and can cause infertility if left untreated.
Infection that spreads to the joints and other areas of the body. The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can spread through the bloodstream and infect other parts of the body, including the joints. Fever, rash, skin sores, joint pain, swelling, and stiffness are some of the possible outcomes.
Increased risk of contracting HIV or AIDS. Having gonorrhea makes you more susceptible to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that leads to AIDS. People who have both gonorrhea and HIV can more easily transmit both diseases to their partners.
Complications in babies. Babies who contract gonorrhea during birth may experience blindness, scalp sores, and infections.
Prevention
To reduce the risk of contracting gonorrhea:
Use condoms if you have sex. Not having sex and avoiding sexual activity is the surest way to prevent gonorrhea. But if you do decide to have sex, use a condom during any type of sexual contact, including anal, oral, or vaginal sex.
Limit the number of sexual partners. Being in a monogamous relationship in which neither partner has sex with another person can reduce the risk.
Make sure you and your partner get tested for sexually transmitted infections. Before having sex, get tested and share the results with each other.
Don't have sex with someone who appears to have a sexually transmitted infection. If someone has symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, such as burning during urination, or a genital rash or sore, don't have sex with that person.
Consider getting screened regularly for gonorrhea. Annual screening is recommended for sexually active women under age 25 and for older women at high risk for infection. This includes women who have new sexual partners, more than one sexual partner, sexual partners with other partners, or sexual partners with sexually transmitted infections.
Regular screening is also recommended for men who have sex with men. Their partners should also get tested.
A medication called doxycycline may be an option to prevent infection in people at higher-than-average risk of contracting gonorrhea. The highest-risk groups are men who have sex with men and transgender women.
Taking doxycycline 3 days after sexual activity reduces the risk of contracting the bacteria that cause gonorrhea. Your healthcare provider can prescribe doxycycline and any tests you may need while taking the medication.
If you have been diagnosed with gonorrhea, do not have sex until you and your sexual partner have completed treatment and your symptoms have resolved. This helps prevent contracting gonorrhea again.
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