Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that is spread by having sex. It can infect the:

• vagina
• cervix
• penis
• anus
• throat

If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body and cause worse infections. It can even cause scarring that can ruin your chance of having children. Occasionally, gonorrhea that goes without treatment can kill you. About 1 million people in the U.S. contract gonorrhea every year.

The bacteria lives in body fluids:

• semen
• vaginal discharge
• saliva
• blood

Vaginal, anal or oral sex spreads the fluids and the bacteria in them to your body.

Many men and women have NO symptoms until the infection gets more severe. If the gonorrhea infection is in the throat, there are hardly ever any symptoms.

Early symptoms may include:

• A burning feeling while you pee
• Peeing more often
• Discharge from the vagina or penis

Later symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Cramping
• Feeling sick to your stomach
• Backache
• Pain and/or bleeding with sex
• Bleeding in-between periods

Gonorrhea is determined with a medical test in which a sample of fluid is taken from the penis, vagina, anus or throat, then sent to a lab for results. When you come into our clinic, we will give you lots of information, answer all your questions and give you a complete exam that can detect gonorrhea and other problems you might have.

Yes. Prescription antibiotics will kill the gonorrhea bacteria. Treatment that’s not completed can spell serious problems down the road, such as:

• abdominal pain
• pelvic infections
• internal scarring
• sterility in men and women
• tubal pregnancy
• painful joints

If you are being treated for gonorrhea, you must stop having sex until you’re cured and the same goes for your partner. This will help keep you from getting reinfected or spreading the disease to someone else.

Not having sex is the best way to protect yourself from any sexually transmitted infection. If you do decide to have sex, plan your sexual relationships safely and responsibly. Have sex with only one partner who will only have sex with you, and always use a condom. If you think you may be infected, don’t have sex at all until you are tested and get the results.

Call us at West Suburban Teen Clinic if you have any questions about gonorrhea or any other topics that affect teens and young adults. We are here to help.