Symptoms
Gonorrhea - CDC Fact Sheet Anyone who is sexually active can get gonorrhea. Gonorrhea can cause very serious complications when not treated, but can be cured with the right medication. What is gonorrhea? Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can infect both men and women. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat.
Causes
Gonorrhea often has no symptoms, but it can cause serious health problems, even without symptoms. Most women with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they are often mild and can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Symptoms in women can include: Painful or burning sensation when peeing;
Prevention
May 29, 2015 · The bacterium that causes it, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has developed resistance to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, traditionally used to treat it, so that in a …
Complications
Oct 26, 2020 · The most common treatment is a single antibiotic injection of ceftriaxone and a single dose of oral azithromycin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) treatment guidelines. Currently, there are no at-home treatments to cure gonorrhea. It is strongly advised that you get care from a doctor.
What happens if you don't treat gonorrhea?
Certain strains of the gonorrhea bacteria have become resistant to some medicines. When bacteria become resistant to an antibiotic, they no longer can be killed by that medicine. If you've been treated for gonorrhea and don't get better, you may be retested to see if there is resistance to the antibiotic you took.
Do antibiotics for gonorrhoea no longer work?
Sep 10, 2018 · Infants born with gonorrhea may be blind, or experience potentially fatal joint and blood infections. In very rare instances, gonorrhea may spread to the joints or blood of grown individuals as well. Lastly, people who have gonorrhea are at a higher risk of getting HIV. Gonorrhea Prevention and Treatment. Gonorrhea spreads through sexual ...
How can I avoid getting gonorrhea?
Mar 14, 2022 · This is because the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, are becoming increasingly resistant to azithromycin. There are certain situations in which a doctor might recommend a...
Can gonorrhea be treated with medication?
Oct 05, 2021 · Gonorrhea treatment in adults Adults with gonorrhea are treated with antibiotics. Due to emerging strains of drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that uncomplicated gonorrhea be treated with the antibiotic ceftriaxone — given as an injection — with oral azithromycin (Zithromax).
What happens if gonorrhea doesn't go away after treatment?
If you still have symptoms after you finish your treatment, call your doctor. Even if you finish your treatment and the gonorrhea is totally gone, it's possible to get infected with gonorrhea again. Gonorrhea isn't a one-time-only deal. So use condoms and get tested regularly.
How do you treat stubborn gonorrhea?
Adults with gonorrhea are treated with antibiotics. Due to emerging strains of drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that uncomplicated gonorrhea be treated with the antibiotic ceftriaxone — given as an injection — with oral azithromycin (Zithromax).Oct 5, 2021
Can gonorrhea be resistant to treatment?
Gonorrhea has progressively developed resistance to the antibiotic drugs prescribed to treat it. Following the spread of gonococcal fluoroquinolone resistance, the cephalosporin antibiotics have been the foundation of recommended treatment for gonorrhea.
Why do I still have gonorrhea after treatment?
If you've had gonorrhea and took medicine in the past, you can still get it again. This happens if you have sex without a condom with a person who has gonorrhea.
What is complicated gonorrhea?
Uncomplicated infections are much more common, encompassing any urogenital, anogenital, or pharyngeal infection caused by N gonorrhoeae that does not result in bacteremia. An N gonorrhoeae infection that results in bacteremia and/or the spread of bacteria to joints and tissues is considered a complicated infection.Aug 18, 2016
How do you know when gonorrhea is gone?
If you have any symptoms of gonorrhoea, these will usually improve within a few days, although it may take up to 2 weeks for any pain in your pelvis or testicles to disappear completely. Bleeding between periods or heavy periods should improve by the time of your next period.
What happens if gonorrhea is resistant?
If not, increasing resistance to the current treatment could result in a rise in the type of complications associated with gonorrhea infections. These complications, which predominantly affect women, include infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy.Sep 4, 2018
Is all gonorrhea antibiotic resistant?
Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea: An Overview Gonorrhea has developed resistance to nearly all of the antibiotics used for its treatment. We are currently down to one last recommended and effective class of antibiotics, cephalosporins, to treat this common infection.
What causes super gonorrhea?
It can be transmitted via vaginal, anal, or oral sex and is highly contagious. Gonorrhea is caused by the bacteria N. gonorrhoeae, which has a history of becoming resistant to antibiotics.Feb 24, 2022
What permanent damage can gonorrhea cause?
Untreated gonorrhea can cause infections of the fallopian tubes, cervix, uterus, and abdomen. This is called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It can permanently damage the reproductive system and make you infertile (not able to have children). PID is treated with antibiotics.Apr 26, 2021
Can gonorrhea come back by itself?
Yes, you can get gonorrhea again. You can get it from an untreated partner or a new partner.
Can gonorrhea come back without additional exposure?
Having a gonorrhea infection once does not protect you from getting another infection in the future. A new exposure to gonorrhea will cause reinfection, even if you were previously treated and cured.
How Can I Reduce My Risk of Getting Gonorrhea?
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chan...
Am I at Risk For Gonorrhea?
Any sexually active person can get gonorrhea through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex.If you are sexually active, have an honest and open tal...
I’M pregnant. How Does Gonorrhea Affect My Baby?
If you are pregnant(https://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/stdfact-pregnancy.htm) and have gonorrhea, you can give the infection to your baby during del...
How Do I Know If I Have Gonorrhea?
Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, men who do have symptoms, may have: 1. A burning sensation when urinating; 2. A white...
How Will My Doctor Know If I Have Gonorrhea?
Most of the time, urine can be used to test for gonorrhea. However, if you have had oral and/or anal sex, swabs may be used to collect samples from...
I was Treated For Gonorrhea. When Can I Have Sex Again?
You should wait seven days after finishing all medications before having sex. To avoid getting infected with gonorrhea again or spreading gonorrhea...
What Happens If I Don’T Get Treated?
Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both women and men.In women, untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammato...
Where Can I Get More Information?
STD information and referrals to STD ClinicsCDC-INFO1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)TTY: 1-888-232-6348In English, en Español
Why is it important to talk to your doctor about gonorrhea?
If you are pregnant, it is important that you talk to your health care provider so that you get the correct examination, testing, and treatment, as necessary. Treating gonorrhea as soon as possible will make health complications for your baby less likely.
What is gonorrhea in women?
What is gonorrhea? Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can infect both men and women. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is a very common infection, especially among young people ages 15-24 years.
How to avoid STDs?
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting gonorrhea: Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results;
Can you get gonorrhea from sex?
Any sexually active person can get gonorrhea through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, have an honest and open talk with your health care provider and ask whether you should be tested for gonorrhea or other STDs.
Can you take medication for gonorrhea?
It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection. Medication for gonorrhea should not be shared with anyone. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not undo any permanent damage caused by the disease.
Can you use a urine swab for gonorrhea?
Most of the time, urine can be used to test for gonorrhea. However, if you have had oral and/or anal sex, swabs may be used to collect samples from your throat and/or rectum. In some cases, a swab may be used to collect a sample from a man’s urethra (urine canal) or a woman’s cervix (opening to the womb).
Can gonorrhea cause vaginal bleeding?
Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, even if they don’t have any symptoms. Symptoms in women can include: Painful or burning sensation when urinating; Increased vaginal discharge; Vaginal bleeding between periods.
What antibiotics are used for gonorrhea?
Another class of antibiotics commonly used to treat gonorrhea are macrolide antibiotics, specifically azithromycin (brand name Zithromax). Macrolides work by stopping the growth of bacteria. Taken as a tablet along with a ceftriaxone injection, a single dose is often all that is required to treat gonorrhea. If you vomit within an hour of taking your azithromycin tablet, contact your doctor immediately to determine if you require another dose. Like all drugs, there is the risk of side effects. Some side effects include, but are not limited to, nausea, headache, and diarrhea. More severe side effects can include rash, swelling, or vomiting. If you experience any of these or other side effects after taking this medication, seek out medical help immediately.
What is the best antibiotic for gonorrhea?
Cephalosporins are part of a class of antibiotics called beta-lactams that kill bacteria. Ceftriaxone, commonly known by its brand name Rocephin, is the most commonly used drug in this class to treat gonorrhea. Usually taken as a single dose, a doctor will inject it either into a vein (IV) or large muscle (IM) like the buttock. Some side effects include tenderness at the injection site, shortness of breath, diarrhea, rash, nausea, or vomiting. If you experience any of these side effects or otherwise do not feel well after taking ceftriaxone, contact a doctor immediately.
What is the disease that affects both men and women?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects both men and women. Caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, more than 550,000 cases were reported in 2017 alone across the United States. Most commonly spread through sexual contact, some people who carry the infection show no symptoms.
How long does it take for gonorrhea to show up in urine?
A urine test to check for any bacteria (specifically gonorrhea) Test results are usually available in 24 hours to three days.
What is the cause of pelvic inflammatory disease?
This occurs when the infection moves up from the vagina to the reproductive tract, and into the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes. PID can cause damage to the reproductive system, as well as severe abdominal pain.
Can gonorrhea be cured?
This sexually transmitted disease can be cured with antibiotics. The most common treatment is a single antibiotic injection of ceftriaxone and a single dose of oral azithromycin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) treatment guidelines.
Does ceftriaxone cause shortness of breath?
Some side effects include tenderness at the injection site, shortness of breath, diarrhea, rash, nausea, or vomiting. If you experience any of these side effects or otherwise do not feel well after taking ceftriaxone, contact a doctor immediately. Up until 2012, cephalosporin was prescribed orally for gonorrhea.
How to treat gonorrhea?
Starting treatment. Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Treatment is recommended for: A person who has a positive gonorrhea test. Anyone who has had sexual contact in the past 60 days with a person who's been diagnosed with gonorrhea. Treatment is recommended even if you used condoms or if the other person doesn't have symptoms.
How long after taking gonorrhea medicine can you have sex?
If your treatment is just one dose of medicine, wait at least 7 days after you take it before having any sexual contact. Always use a condom when you have sex. This helps protect you from sexually transmitted infections.
What happens if you don't get better?
Treatment if the condition doesn't get better. If your symptoms don't go away, you may have another gonorrhea infection. Certain strains of the gonorrhea bacteria have become resistant to some medicines. When bacteria become resistant to an antibiotic, they no longer can be killed by that medicine.
Can you take antibiotics with gonorrhea?
A newborn whose mother has gonorrhea at the time of delivery. If you are prescribed more than one dose, be sure to take your antibiotic exactly as directed. If you miss doses or don't take all of the medicine, the infection may not go away. Do not have sexual contact with anyone: While you are being treated.
Do you need a condom for gonorrhea?
Always use a condom when you have sex. This helps protect you from sexually transmitted infections. Some people who have gonorrhea also have chlamydia. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that treatment for gonorrhea include antibiotics that also treat chlamydia.
Can you be retested for gonorrhea?
When bacteria become resistant to an antibiotic, they no longer can be killed by that medicine. If you've been treated for gonorrhea and don't get better, you may be retested to see if there is resistance to the antibiotic you took. In this case, you may need another antibiotic. Diagnosis. Next Section.
What happens if you don't get tested for gonorrhea?
However, if you don’t get tested or seek treatment, STDs become much more dangerous. To underline that point, today we’ll take a look at what happens if gonorrhea is left untreated. Plus, we’ll explain how you can avoid these STD worst-case scenarios in the future:
What happens if you leave gonorrhea untreated?
As repugnant as STDs are, ignoring them is the worst thing any sexually active person can do. That’s because untreated STDs can lead to a host of problems –– most of which are avoidable with early diagnosis and treatment.
Can gonorrhea spread to the joints?
Infants born with gonorrhea may be blind, or experience potentially fatal joint and blood infections. In very rare instances, gonorrhea may spread to the joints or blood of grown individuals as well. Lastly, people who have gonorrhea are at a higher risk of getting HIV.
Is gonorrhea a problem?
Unfortunately, gonorrhea is a problematic disease, and as we’ll explain below, presents real problems if ignored.
Is gonorrhea asymptomatic or asymptomatic?
And in many cases, gonorrhea remains asymptomatic. Or if symptoms do occur, they could be mild. On the other hand, some people may experience a variety of symptoms including: Discharge from the genitals. Pain during urination. Blood in between menstrual periods. Nausea/vomiting.
Can you get gonorrhea from sex?
Gonorrhea spreads through sexual contact. So if you’ve had oral, anal, or vaginal sex, then you could contract gonorrhea. In particular, unprotected sex increases the risk of gonorrhea transmission. Fortunately, gonorrhea is a bacterial disease that is curable.
Can gonorrhea cause infertility?
Gonorrhea can cause infertility in both men and women. For men, gonorrhea is linked to epididymitis, which is a painful inflammation of the testicles. Sometimes, untreated cases of epididymitis will leave patients infertile.
What happens if you don't get gonorrhea?
But if a person does not receive treatment, gonorrhea can result in long-term complications. diagnoses of gonorrhea in the United States. Gonorrhea is a notifiable disease, which means that a doctor must report all diagnoses to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
How to prevent gonorrhea?
Ways of avoiding gonorrhea include: avoiding sexual activity if there is the possibility of infection. using a barrier method of protection, such as condoms, during vaginal or anal intercourse. using condoms or dental dams during oral intercourse.
How long does it take for a baby to get gonorrhea?
Some newborns develop conjunctivitis, and gonorrhea is one possible cause. The symptoms usually appear 2–4 days. after birth and include red eyes, thick pus in the eyes, and swollen eyelids.
What are the complications of gonorrhea?
For this reason, it is important to receive treatment as soon as possible. In females, gonorrhea can lead to: PID. chronic pelvic pain. infertility. ectopic pregnancy, which can be a medical emergency.
Why do you see a doctor for gonorrhea?
A person might receive a diagnosis of gonorrhea if they see a doctor because they have had symptoms or because they suspect that they have been exposed to the infection. The doctor will ask the person about their symptoms and medical history.
Where does gonorrhea come from?
Gonorrhea can pass from person to person through sexual contact that involves the penis, vagina, anus, or mouth.
Is gonorrhea difficult to treat?
This resistance is making gonorrhea increasingly difficult to treat . If a person does not notice any improvement in their symptoms after several days, they should return to their healthcare provider. They may need further testing to determine whether the treatment is working.
What is the best treatment for gonorrhea?
Adults with gonorrhea are treated with antibiotics. Due to emerging strains of drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that uncomplicated gonorrhea be treated with the antibiotic ceftriaxone — given as an injection — with oral azithromycin (Zithromax).
Can you get a home test for gonorrhea?
For women, home test kits are available for gonorrhea. They include vaginal swabs for self-testing that are sent to a specified lab for testing. You can choose to be notified by email or text message when your results are ready. You can view your results online or receive them by calling a toll-free hotline.
Can gonorrhea be tested for chlamydia?
Testing for other sexually transmitted infections. Your doctor may recommend tests for other sexually transmitted infections. Gonorrhea increases your risk of these infections, particularly chlamydia, which often accompanies gonorrhea.
How long does gonorrhea last after treatment?
If symptoms continue for more than a few days after you start receiving treatment, return to your health care provider to be checked.
How do you know if you have gonorrhea?
In women, the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild, and are sometimes mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Symptoms in women include: 1 Painful or burning sensation when urinating 2 Increased vaginal discharge 3 Vaginal bleeding between periods
Can PID cause infertility?
PID can damage the fallopian tubes enough to cause infertility or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy (life-threatening pregnancy outside the uterus). In men, gonorrhea can cause epididymitis, a painful condition of the testicles that can lead to infertility if not treated. Gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints.
Can you get gonorrhea again?
Although medication will cure the infection, damage done by the disease is permanent. Having gonorrhea does not mean a person can’t get it again. Contact a Health Care Provider if symptoms continue after getting treatment.
Can you take antibiotics with gonorrhea?
Because many people with gonorrhea also have chlamydia, another STD, antibiotics for both infections are usually given together. People with gonorrhea should be tested for other STDs. It is important to take all of the medication prescribed to cure gonorrhea.
Can gonorrhea cause blindness?
If a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, she may give the infection to her baby during a vaginal delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby.
Can a gonorrhea test be performed on urine?
The Sexual Health Clinic uses a urine test for gonorrhea for all clients.
