The Lowdown on Gonorrhea

Many people are familiar with the disease term Gonorrhea but few actually know what the disease does. People who have Gonorrhea are unfairly branded as sexual deviants or even perverts that have received their just deserts.

Gonorrhea is classified as a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). It specifically targets the urethra in men plus the cervix area in women. The disease also spreads out to infect the anus, rectum, the lower pelvic organs and sometimes the throat areas.

The street term for Gonorrhea is the slime, the clap, or the drip.

The Causes

The disease is caused by the transmittal of the bacteria called N. Gonorrhoeae during the course of oral and anal sex with a partner that has the disease. It must be firmly established that partners who have no disease cannot have one infected while the other remains clean. One or both of the partners must have the disease for it to be passed on.

Gonorrhea is a silent killing disease for one does not have to display the symptoms of Gonorrhea for it to be transmitted. A person with low level infection can easily transmit it to another person through sexual contact.

Contrary to popular belief, once a person has experienced or contracted Gonorrhea in the past, it does not mean that one is instantly protected against new strains. A new exposure would cause the similar symptoms.

The Symptoms?

Gonorrhea is an STD that does not instantly show its symptoms in the infected person. Most of the people who have Gonorrhea are not aware that they do have it and pass it on to another person.

The most common areas of infection are the throat, anus and rectum. If the signs of infection are present, there may also be other symptoms such as excessive anal itching, anal bleeding and excessive discharging from both female and men sexual organs.

The symptoms that manifest themselves in Men are sever that the infected person has to seek medical treatment right away whereas women usually mistake the symptoms for bladder or vaginal infection.

The symptoms usually have an incubation period of 3 – 5 days and during the 3rd days the symptoms may reveal themselves. There are cases were in the symptoms are only revealed after 2 weeks or so.
This is a case to case basis.

What is the treatment?

All forms of Gonorrhea can be treated with a barrage of antibiotics. If taken correctly without any fail, it has been proven to remove the disease. If the treatment is not followed, the disease would stay on and lead to further complications such as infections of the pelvic areas.

Any form of sexual contact is to be avoided while on treatment for STD. Any attempt might strengthen the dying STD and revive it further.

Preventive Measures?

The only safe way to prevent the spread or contact of Gonorrhea is to have only one sexual partner. Multiple partners mean the spread of the disease. If sex cannot be avoided, the use of preventive devices such as condom or jellies can be used but it is advisable to stop casual sex.

Gonorrhea is a disease that must be taken seriously for ignorance of the causes may open the user or person up to further lethal diseases like AIDS.

Tags: , , , ,

  • »

Gonorrhea: Leaving It Untreated Spells Bad News

It was a wild night although you know that having that one night stand without any form of protection was risky. You are afraid of catching an STD but you dismissed the fact of actually acquiring it from a one-time deal. However, a few days later, you notice that you are having difficulty urinating – painful even, and there’s a yellowish, foul-smelling discharge coming out of your vagina or penis. You hurriedly went to see a doctor only to find out that your worst nightmare has come true. It’s an STD alright by the name gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea is one of the most, if not, the most common sexually-transmitted diseases affecting millions of men and women all over the world. Neisseria gonorrheae, the causative agent of gonorrhea is a gram-negative cocci which usually occurs in pairs. The bacteria thrive and multiply in warm, moist environments, making the reproductive tract one of the most suitable places for bacterial growth.

In women, the cervix, which is lined by columnar epithelium, is the usual first site of infection. The vagina is spared from infection because of the protective stratified squamous cells that line the vaginal wall. In both men and women, the urethra is affected. Other sites of infection may be the rectum and the oral cavity.

In many individuals, signs and symptoms of gonorrhea do not occur at once because the infection has only managed to reach subclinical levels making transmission rates high for asymptomatic patients. However, in symptomatic patients, signs and symptoms of gonorrhea may take from a couple of days to a month after infection to start appearing.

Pain when urinating, which is usually described as a burning sensation, and a foul-smelling discharge of white, yellow or green color are two of the most common signs and symptoms of gonorrheal infection. Other reported symptoms of infection include off-cycle menstrual bleeding or bleeding after sexual intercourse for women and painful, swollen testicles for men. Rectal infection may be observed as having anal itching and discharge, soreness, bleeding and painful defecation. Throat infection may cause soreness but usually, no symptoms seen in Neisseria gonorrheae infections of the oropharynx. Women have an increased risk of developing more severe and serious complications from the infection irregardless of the presence of signs and symptoms.

Untreated gonorrhea increases risk of both men and women to developing complications. Women who remain untreated may develop pelvic inflammatory disease which can lead to a chronic pain in the pelvic area. The inflammation of the fallopian tubes may cause infertility or increase the risk of having ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy in places outside the uterus. Untreated men may develop epididymitis or inflammation of the testicles which may also cause infertility if left untreated. The infection can also spread to the blood and joints which is a life-threatening condition. If left untreated, gonorrhea can increase the risk of patients in acquiring more severe STDs such as HIV.

The key to preventing gonorrheal infection is abstinence or the practice of safe sex. Condoms must be used at all times, especially if the sexual history of the partner is unknown. Because gonorrhea can be a subclinical disease, chances of transmission from one partner to another is high. In the presence of signs and symptoms however, it is vital to see a doctor immediately especially if more serious symptoms have started to occur because appropriate treatments must be given in order to combat this STD.

Tags: , , , ,

  • »