Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea, also known as "the clap" is a fairly common sexually transmitted disease. While anyone can be infected with gonorrhea, people between the ages of 15 and 29 are responsible of 75% of the reported cases. Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection; from the Neisseria gonorrheae bacteria. The disease is transmitted mainly through vaginal, anal and oral sex. Bacteria are transmitted through vaginal and seminal fluids. Infection can show up in the genital tract, mouth or rectum. Once infected, symptoms of gonorrhea can take between two and ten days to show up. In women, the cervix is usually the first site of infection. From there, the infection moves up into the uterus and into the fallopian tubes. Women are much more likely than men to be asymptomatic. If they do develop symptoms, they are likely to include: bleeding after sex, pain or burning sensation when urinating, need to urinate more frequently, vaginal discharge that is yellow or bloody, cramps, bleeding between periods, nausea or vomiting and fever. In men, gonorrhea symptoms include a puss discharge from the penis (white, yellow or green in color) accompanied by pain, burning sensation when urinating and swollen testicles. If the infection is in the rectum, symptoms will include discharge, anal itching and painful bowel movements. It is also likely that your feces will have blood in them. Gonorrhea treatment usually consists of a single dose of medication. Depending on your age and whether or not you are pregnant, some antibiotics may not be suitable to take. Because it is very common for people to be infected with both gonorrhea and chlamydia at the same time, gonorrhea treatments often include medication for chlamydia as well. While the treatment can clear up the infection, it cannot undo any damage gonorrhea may have done to your reproductive system prior to treatment. Practicing abstinence or having sex within a committed relationship with someone who has tested free from gonorrhea are the most