Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can also be
transferred from pregnant mothers to their babies at birth.
Gonorrhea most commonly affects adolescents and young adults. Experts believe that hundreds of thousands of cases undetected
and untreated because the infection is not always noticeable symptoms. Many people who have gonorrhea also
another common STD, chlamydia. So, if doctors suspect or diagnose a case of gonorrhea, they often screen for and treat
other sexually transmitted diseases.
Gonorrhea is preventable - and treatable - so someone sex (oral, anal or vaginal) should take precautions
get screened regularly against venereal diseases and for them.
Symptoms
Many times gonorrhea not produce any symptoms. When there are symptoms, the infection can cause painful urination
and a cloudy discharge from the penis or vagina. This discharge may be thick and may have a greenish-yellow color. Men
swelling or pain can have their testicles. Women have lower abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, and abnormal
Bleeding from the vagina.
Gonorrhea can rectal pain, especially during bowel movements. A sore throat can result from a gonorrhea throat
Infection.
If gonorrhea undetected and untreated, it can lead to serious health problems. In men it can cause scars
within the urethra, which can make urination difficult. In women, untreated gonorrhea can spread upward from the
vaginal area to treat acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries.
It can lead to abscesses in the fallopian tubes, and even infertility.
Gonorrhea in men and women, which can go undetected through the blood to parts of the body that spread itself far from
the reproductive organs and lead to inflammation of the joints, skin, bones, tendons, heart, or also the area
the liver.
Prevention
Because gonorrhea is transmitted through sexual contact, the best way to prevent this, to abstain from sex. Sexual
Contact with more than one partner or with someone who has more than one partner increases the risk of a
STD.
When properly and consistently used, condoms reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Latex condoms provide better protection than
natural membrane condoms. The female condom, made of polyurethane, is also considered effective against STDs.
Although birth control pills do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, they may offer some protection against PID by
the body in order, making it more difficult for bacteria to reach the cervical mucus thicker the upper genital tract.
With showers can actually increase a female risk of STDs because it can change the natural flora of the
Vagina and may flush bacteria higher into the genital tract.
Treatment
If gonorrhea is suspected, the doctor or urine samples of fluid from the urethra to send (at the end of the penis), or
the cervix to a laboratory for examination. If the doctor thinks it has spread, further tests may be required.
If gonorrhea is caught early, it can be treated with antibiotics. Since the symptoms of gonorrhea are similar to those
of chlamydia and because anyone can be infected with both, people with gonorrhea are sometimes treated for both
Diseases. Treatments are usually very effective, but rarely anyone have a gonorrhea infection who have not responded
to certain antibiotics. If the symptoms continue after treatment, the person, the doctor should know that.
A teenager is treated for gonorrhea should also be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases, and should time alone with the doctor to
openly discuss issues like sexual activity. Not all young people will be comfortable talking with parents about these issues.
But it is important to encourage them to talk to a trusted adult who can provide facts.
All young people who had any type of sex (vaginal, oral, or anal), should be checked regularly for STDs so that they do not
lead to other serious health problems. It is also important that you inform any sexual partners if they have a
STD.
Get help
If your child is thinking of getting sexually active or already has started having sex, is it important to talk about it.
Make sure your child knows how to spread sexually transmitted diseases (during anal, oral, or vaginal sex) and that these infections often
no symptoms, so a partner might have an STD without knowing it.
It can be difficult to talk about STDs, but as with any other medical issue, teens need this information to stay
safe and healthy. Give the facts and let your child know where you stand.
It is also important that all teens have regular full physical exams - which can screening for sexually transmitted diseases. Your teen
Maybe you want a gynecologist or a specialist in adolescent medicine, see talk about sexual health issues. Community
Health organizations and sexual health in your area may provide guidance.