Gonorrhea

October 15, 2009 - 7:36 PM

Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. This Sexually Transmitted Disease is the second most common after Chlamydia.

 Gonorrhea is one of the STDs that may not show any symptoms. It can infect several body parts but primarily the sexual organs. The non-genital sites that it thrives are in the rectum, the throat, and eyes. The female vulva and vagina are usually secure because the stratified epithelial cells line them—in women the cervix is usually the first site of infection.

Gonorrhea is typically spread during sexual intercourse. At the same time, gonorrhea can be vertically transmitted; infected mothers can pass gonorrhea to their newborns during delivery. This can cause eye infections that can lead to blindness if  not treated. A small number of people may be asymptomatic for a lifetime. Between 30% and 60% of people with gonorrhea are asymptomatic.

Women may complain of vaginal discharge, trouble urinating, projectile urination, off-cycle menstrual bleeding, or bleeding after sexual intercourse. Less advanced symptoms, which may indicate development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This may include include cramps and pain, bleeding between menstrual periods, vomiting, or fever. It is not unusual for men to have asymptomatic gonorrhea.

Men may complain of pain on urinating and thick, copious, urethral pus discharges. The incubation period is 10 to 20 days with most symptoms occurring between the fifteenth and twentieth days after being infected.

The cervix may appear anywhere from normal to the severe of marked cervical swelling with pus. Possibility of increased production of male hormones is common in many cases. The infection is transmitted from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal sexual relations, though transmission occurs rarely with safe sex practices of Condom usage with lubrication.

Men have a 20% risk of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a woman infected with gonorrhea. Women have a 50% risk of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a man infected with gonorrhea. It is highly recommended that those engaging in sexual intercourse protect themselves.

To learn more about safe sex and sexually transmitted diseases, please visit the Sexually Transmitted Infections article.