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Gonorrhea
Frequently Asked Questions About Gonorrhea1,2 |
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| What is gonorrhea?1 | |
| Gonorrhea is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhea. The CDC estimates that more than 700,000 people are infected with gonorrhea each year.1 | |
| How does one get gonorrhea?1,2 | |
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Sexual activity: through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus1 |
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From mother to baby: during delivery1 |
| The highest rates of infection are among 15- to 19-year-old women and 20- to 24-year-old men. | |
| What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?1 | |
| Men | |
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Pain or burning sensation when urinating |
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White, yellow, or green discharge from the penis |
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Painful or swollen testicles |
| Symptoms may appear a few days after infection, a month or more after infection, or not at all. | |
| Women | |
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Painful or burning sensation when urinating |
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Increased vaginal discharge |
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Vaginal bleeding between periods |
| Many women have no symptoms or mild symptoms that are often mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. | |
| How is gonorrhea diagnosed?1 | |
| Laboratory tests are available at doctors’ offices and some clinics. | |
| How is gonorrhea treated? | |
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Antibiotics are available to successfully cure the infection. Because the gonorrhea bacterium has
become resistant to some antibiotics, the CDC currently recommends treatment with a class of drugs
called cephalosporins, specifically ceftriaxone 125 mg single intramuscular dose or cefixime 400 mg
(single oral dose), available as Suprax® 400-mg tablets.3
Treatment is very important to avoid potentially serious and permanent complications from this infection, such as1,2: |
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In women: pelvic inflammatory disease |
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In men: epididymitis, a painful condition of the testicle ducts that may lead to infertility if untreated |
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In men and women: an infection that spreads to the blood or joints, which can be life-threatening |
| Many people with gonorrhea also have another STD, so anyone with gonorrhea should be tested for other STDs.1,2 | |
| How can gonorrhea be prevented?1 | |
| Abstaining from sexual activity or staying in a monogamous relationship with an uninfected person is the only way to completely avoid the transmission of gonorrhea. The proper use of latex condoms may also reduce the spread of this disease. Sexual partners of people diagnosed with gonorrhea should be tested and treated, if necessary, to help prevent further transmission.1,2 | |
| References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gonorrhea—CDC Fact Sheet. www.cdc.gov/std/Gonorrhea/STDFactgonorrhea. htm. 2. Mayo Clinic. Gonorrhea. www.mayoclinic.com/health/gonorrhea/DS00180. 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update to CDC’s Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines, 2006: fluoroquinolones no longer recommended for treatment of gonococcal infections. MMWR. 2007;56:332-336. | |