Gonorrhea -- Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
by Beth G. Hodges, MD

Gonorrhea, in past times referred to as "the clap," is a bacterial infection passed by sexual contact. It is caused by the organism Neisseria gonorrhea and can infect the urethra, the cervix, the uterus, the fallopian tubes, the rectum, the throat, and even isolated joints in the body.

It affects 700,000 people in the United states each year, most commonly in the 15-29 year age group. Symptoms can occur between 2 and 30 days after exposure.

Women can experience a yellow or green vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, painful urination, bleeding after intercourse, and sore throat. Unfortunately, women sometimes have no symptoms at all, which can allow the infection to fester and cause scarring of the genital tract, leading to later female infertility.

In contrast, men usually do experience symptoms in the nature of a green or yellow penile discharge, painful urination, or sore throat. For men, symptoms usually occur more quickly, 2-14 days after exposure.

Gonorrhea infection is diagnosed by DNA probe or culture from the symptomatic area, meaning the throat if sore throat is the main complaint, the cervix if pelvic pain or vaginal discharge is the problem, or the end of the penis if painful urination or penile discharge is present in a male. Increasing sensitivity of the available testing has recently also made it possible to culture the organism from the urine. Fluid from a swollen joint can be aspirated with a needle and cultured.

Gonorrhea and another common sexually transmitted disease, Chlamydia, often coexist in the same person, so the doctor may choose to treat the patient for both if one is found. Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics, and all partners of the infected individual must be tested.

Gonorrhea can be prevented by the diligent use of condoms or abstaining from sexual activity or by limiting the number of partners one has. Persons infected with and treated for gonorrhea can be retested in two weeks to be sure the infection has cleared. Formerly, this was considered unnecessary, but is more commonly done now in the advent of bacterial resistance. The affected individual should abstain from any sexual activity until a negative retest has been obtained.

Published - January, 2010