Gonorrhea is an infection caused by a bacteria that is spread through sexual contact. Gonorrhea affects both males and females but rarely has any symptoms. If symptoms are present, they generally affect the urinary tract, reproductive tract, rectum, or throat.
Symptoms include:
- Painful urination
- Pain and swelling in one or more testicle
- Discharge from penis
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Bleeding between menstrual cycles
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Anal itching or discharge
- Eye pain, discharge, or sensitivity to light
- Sore throat and swollen neck lymph nodes
- Swollen, painful joints
Left untreated, gonorrhea can cause infertility in both men and women. The infection can spread to other joints and cause swelling and pain. You are at an increased risk for contracting HIV, and if you are able to conceive, there is an increased risk of passing gonorrhea to your baby.
Gonorrhea is typically treated with antibiotics, but the health community is sounding the alarm that gonorrhea is becoming resistant to current treatments.
For instance, one Massachusetts resident was diagnosed with gonorrhea, but their symptoms had new symptoms that were atypical to gonorrhea. Additionally, the infection didn’t respond to routine antibiotics.
The best treatment for gonorrhea is prevention. Use safe sex practices and get tested every three months or after having sex with a new partner.
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