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GONORRHOEA - a patient's guide
Editorial Team
Overview
Gonorrhoea is a bacteria which grows in the vagina throat
and rectum
It is spread through sexual intercourse, anal sex and
oral sex.
It is mainly found in people under 30
Gonorrhoea cannot live outside the body for more than
a few minutes
Men experience a burning sensation while urinating and
discharge from the penis
The majority of women do not have symptoms.
Some women will experience discharge and burning while
urinating
The condition can cause infertility in women, and less
commonly in men
Treatment involves antibiotics, but drug resistance is
emerging
Sexual partners should be tested
Condoms are the best prevention
What is gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea is one of the oldest known sexually transmitted
diseases. It is a bacteria which has been around for centuries.
The germs grow in moist, warm areas in the body such as
the vagina, penis, throat and rectum.
The disease is more common in urban areas. It is spread
through sexual contact including intercourse, anal sex and
oral sex. It can also be transferred from a mother to child
during child birth, causing eye infections in the infant.
Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhoea
but is mainly found in people under 30 who have had several
sex partners.
Gonorrhoea cannot live outside the body for more than
a few minutes
Women infected with gonorrhoea have a 25 to 40 percent
chance of also having another STD called chlamydia, and
treatment is recommended for both conditions.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms in men include a burning sensation while urinating
and a yellowish white discharge from the penis.
Fifty percent of women will have no symptoms but those
who do will experience vaginal discharge, itching, and burning
while urinating.
Symptoms usually appear between two to seven days after
contact with an infected person, but it can take up to one
month for symptoms to start.
Gonorrhoea of the rectum can occur in people who practice
anal intercourse, and in women from the infection spreading
from the vagina. Symptoms of rectal infection including
discharge, anal itching, and sometimes painful bowel movements.
Testing for gonorrhoea involves swabbing the infected
site and culturing the swab in a laboratory. The culture
is positive when the gonorrhoea bacteria grows on the culture
plate.
Sometimes the test is negative, even when the patient
has the condition, because of problems with the test.
What can be done to help?
Treatment of gonorrhoea has become difficult in recent
years due to the emergence of penicillin resistance to the
condition. In the past a penicillin injection could cure
almost everyone but now new drugs are being used to cure
the disease.
One of the most effective medicines is ceftriaxone which
is injected. Oral antibiotics include a singe dose of either
cefixime, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin. However, pregnant women
and patients under 18 should avoid ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin.
Treatment should include a drug that will cure chlamydia
as well.
All sexual partners of a person with gonorrhoea should
be treated, whether or not they show signs of infection.
Once treatment is complete another culture test is necessary
to ensure the infection has gone. Antibiotics usually cures
gonorrhoea within 24 hours but it may take a week to cure
chlamydia. Avoid sexual intercourse for one week after treatment
has begun.
Women without symptoms are at risk of developing complications
from the STD such as pelvic inflammatory disease which can
cause infertility. Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease
include fever, pelvic cramping, abdominal pain or pain during
intercourse.
Men who are not treated may suffer from swelling of the
testicles and penis. Both sexes may suffer from arthritis,
skin problems and organ infections caused by gonorrhoea
spreading throughout the body.
How can it be prevented?
Infection with gonorrhoea does not make a person immune
once they recover. Past infections may lead to a higher
risk of complications if re-infection occurs.
Condom use and limiting the number of sex partners can
help to prevent the disease. Gonorrhoea is one of the easiest
STDs to prevent because that bacteria that causes the condition
can only survive under certain conditions.
Because the organism can live in the throat, oral sex
should also be practised with the use of condoms.
Sexual contact should be avoided if you suspect you may
be infected. Sex partners also need treatment.
Future trends
Scientists are continuing to study the organism that causes
gonorrhoea and are working on better methods to prevent
and treat the disease.
Doctors are concerned about the antibiotic resistance
strains of gonorrhoea and researchers are searching for
a vaccine to prevent the disease.
Getting help
Do not delay seeking help, partners should be seen as
well.
Local sexual health services and family planning clinics
can provide help and information. Look for Sexual Health
Clinics in the front of the telephone book.
Your doctor, gynaecologist, urologist or Family Planning
Clinic can also help.
Auckland Sexual Health Service ph 307 2885, fax 307 2884.
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