Lightly edited from this post, originally on our Medium.

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection with more than 600,000 new cases in the US every year. It is very similar to chlamydia so the two are often tested together. Caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, gonorrhea most commonly infects the mucous membranes of the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and urethra, sometimes infecting the anus, mouth, eyes, or throat.

TL;DR 📚

What: Gonorrhea, caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Type of infection: Bacterial and acute, treatable with antibiotics
Symptoms: Usually asymptomatic. Can cause unusual vaginal or penile discharge, burning during urination, or pain during sex
Transmission: Oral, anal, or vaginal sex
Prevention: Barrier methods
Testing: Urine test. Sometimes a swab of the anus, throat, urethra, or cervix may be taken.
Treatment: Antibiotic injection

Symptoms

While gonorrhea is often asymptomatic, symptoms may include burning during urination, unusual penile or vaginal discharge, painful or swollen testicles, and bleeding between menstrual periods. Anal gonorrhea infections may cause discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Gonorrhea of the throat symptoms resemble strep throat and may include a sore throat, discomfort while swallowing food, and occasionally white spots and whitish or yellow discharge.

Transmission

Gonorrhea is transmitted through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex and can also be spread through childbirth.

Prevention

Gonorrhea can be prevented with the use of barrier methods including external (“male”) and internal (“female”) condoms and dental dams. Knowing your partner’s status and getting regular STI screenings (at least annually and ideally between sexual partners) are also an important part of preventing transmission.

Testing

In most cases, gonorrhea is tested with a urine sample. Infections show up 2–30 days after exposure to the bacteria. For suspected oral or anal infections, a swab of the throat or rectum may be taken. In some cases, the urethra or cervix may be swabbed. You can learn more about testing for STIs with our short guide.

Treatment and Follow-Up

The current recommended cure for gonorrhea is a single injection of an antibiotic called ceftriaxone. For oral or anal infections, however, alternative treatment such as oral antibiotics will be prescribed. You should make sure to complete your course of medication as directed and refrain from sex for seven days after the completion of all medication. As antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhea have been increasing, more aggressive treatment may be needed to clear the infection.

For people with gonorrhea of the throat, a test to make sure the cure worked is needed 7–14 days after treatment. All people infected with gonorrhea should be re-screened three months after treatment. If symptoms persist more than a few days after treatment is complete, return to a medical professional for follow-up.

Long-term, gonorrhea that goes untreated can lead to complications like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) or infertility. Like other STIs, gonorrhea infection can increase your chances of contracting HIV.

The Bottom Line

While it can be a little trickier to treat than chlamydia due to antibiotic-resistant strains, gonorrhea is also a very common STI and can be cured with the right medical attention. As always, we at Kiki For The Future stand for smashing STI stigma and reminding you that STIs do not make you dirty and are nothing to be ashamed of.

Sources

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Gonorrhea 101