Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can affect both men and women, and if left untreated, can lead to serious health complications.

What is Gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection that can infect the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is usually spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person. The bacteria can also be passed from mother to child during childbirth.

Symptoms of Gonorrhoea

The symptoms of gonorrhoea can vary depending on the location of the infection and the individual. Common symptoms include:

• Painful urination (dysuria)
• Abnormal vaginal discharge in women, which may be yellow or greenish in color
• Abnormal penile discharge in men, which may be white, yellow, or greenish in color
• Painful sex
• Bleeding between periods or heavier periods in women
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Sore throat (if the infection is in the throat)
• Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding (if the infection is in the rectum)

In some cases, people with gonorrhoea may not experience any symptoms at all. This is known as asymptomatic gonorrhoea.

Treatments for Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following treatments:

• Dual antibiotic therapy, which includes a single dose of ceftriaxone (Rocephin) plus a single dose of azithromycin (Zithromax)
• Alternative treatments may include cefixime (Suprax) or ciprofloxacin (Cipro), but these are not as effective as dual antibiotic therapy

In addition to antibiotics, it is also important to:

• Notify all sex partners from the past 60 days so they can be tested and treated if necessary
• Avoid sex until treatment is complete and symptoms have resolved
• Use condoms consistently to reduce the risk of transmission

Complications of Untreated Gonorrhoea

If left untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to serious health complications, including:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, which can cause infertility and chronic pain
• Epididymitis in men, which is inflammation of the tube that stores sperm and can cause infertility
• Increased risk of HIV transmission
• Arthritis, skin infections, and other systemic complications

Prevention of Gonorrhoea

To reduce the risk of gonorrhoea transmission:

• Use condoms consistently during vaginal, anal, or oral sex
• Limit the number of sex partners
• Get tested regularly for STIs if you are sexually active
• Avoid sharing sex toys
• Consider getting vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), which can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and genital warts