STD of the week: The Clap (Gonorrhea)
Approximately 1.14 million people contract gonorrhea each year, making it a highly common disease among sexually active individuals.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a bacteria that infects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract. Areas that are commonly infected by the infection include the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, urethra and can also infect the mouth, throat, eyes and rectum.
Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea through contact with an infected penis, vagina, mouth or anus.
The best way to mitigate the spread of gonorrhea is to get tested for it, which can prevent current or future sexual partners from contracting it as well as wearing condoms.
Many cases of gonorrhea go undetected due to symptoms not being present in either men or women.
Symptoms of gonorrhea when present around female genitalia include:
Dysuria- painful urination, discomfort or burning when urinating
Increased vaginal discharge
Vaginal bleeding between periods
In male genitalia, symptoms are similar, with a few exceptions:
Dysuria- painful urination, discomfort or burning when urinating
White, yellow or green discharge from the urethra (generally occurring 1-14 days after infection )
When present, symptoms of a rectal infection of gonorrhea in both men and women can include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding or painful bowel movements.
If the throat is infected, the majority of the time it will not show symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they are only shown through a sore throat.
A pregnant woman that is infected with the virus can transmit it to their baby, causing possible complications such as blindness, joint infection or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby.
Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics, but if the infection goes untreated, it can increase a person’s risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV.
Upon initial writing of this article, Pacer Times included misinformation regarding the prevention of this STD. Pacer Times would like to acknowledge this mistake, and direct students to follow the links provided in the article for further education on the prevention of spread and contracting STDs.
