Gonorrhoea; Another Common STD
By Paul S. Dangha (Environmental Scientist)
Gonorrhoea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases that affect both men and women. Gonorrhoea symptoms for women may vary from itchiness in the vaginal area to a severe pelvic infection.
Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoea, which thrives in moist, warm areas of the body, like the cervix, vagina, urinary tract, mouth, and rectum. Known to be one of the oldest sexually transmitted diseases, research shows that annually, nearly a million cases of gonorrhoea occur worldwide, among both men and women, particularly between the ages of 18 to 30 years. The disease gets transmitted through sexual activity, including oral, vaginal, and rectal sex, and even by using sex toys. The infection can also be passed on to the newborns if their mother is infected by it. Thus, it cannot be transmitted from toilet seats, door handles, hugging, or just by touching the person, as the bacteria cannot live outside the body even for a couple of seconds.
Also known as clap, named after a treatment used to clear the blockage in the urethra, if this condition is treated well on time, it can be cured up to 90%; but if left untreated, it can lead to infertility and some other severe problems.
Symptoms in Women
Its symptoms are very mild and non-specific, especially, during the initial stages of the infection; and hence, they are often mistaken for some bladder or vaginal infection. Moreover, most women experience no symptoms during the early stages, and they usually appear within 2 to 10 days, or sometimes, even after 30 days of the bacterial infection. Some of the common ones are given below.
- Burning or frequent urination
- A yellowish or white vaginal discharge
- Redness and swelling of the genitals
- Strong-smelling vaginal discharge
- Irritation or discharge from the anus
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Burning sensation or itchiness in the vaginal area
- Inflammation of fallopian tubes and ovaries, leading to pelvic inflammation or infection
- Pelvic cramping and abdominal pain
- Painful bowel movements
- Severe pain during and after intercourse
- Fever and general tiredness
- Swollen and painful glands at the vaginal opening
- Eye redness and watery discharge from eyes (rarely)
Treatment
Since the signs remain unnoticed in most cases, a proper diagnosis is conducted to ascertain the condition, and start the necessary treatment. The doctor may request for medical laboratory investigation such as a genital examination by performing a urine or swab test. Earlier, the treatment was fairly simple, wherein a penicillin injection was given to the patient. However, over time, the bacteria became resistant to such antibiotics, and so, it became difficult to treat this disorder. But fortunately, today various oral medications can be used for treatment, for both men and women. Treatment mainly comprises antibiotics, like ceftriaxone, cefixime, ciprofloxacin, or ofloxacin, which should be taken only under a doctors recommendation.
In most cases, the infection is cured; however, it can reoccur if proper care and hygiene are not maintained. Hence, the best way to avoid the risks of having this disease is to use latex condoms, which will not only prevent this condition, but also other STDs and HIV/AIDS. Also, avoid having sex with your partner until you have completed your entire treatment course. I hope the information given in this article proves to be beneficial in understanding and dealing with this sexually transmitted disease in a better way.
This article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
