Gonorrhea
What Is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria. It can affect any part of your body that’s warm and moist—like your genitals, throat, eyes, or anus. And yes, it’s common, especially among young people between 15 and 24 years old!
How do you get gonorrhea?
- Gonorrhea spreads through unprotected sex (vaginal, oral, or anal).
- It can also be passed from mother to baby during birth
- If you’ve had it before, you can get it again
Symptoms?
Men:
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Unusual discharge (white, yellow, or green)
- Swollen testicles Women:
- Unusual vaginal discharge (greenish, creamy, or watery)
- Pain during sex or urination
- Lower belly pain
- Irregular bleeding between periods
Other symptoms:
- Oral gonorrhea: Sore throat and swollen glands.
- Rectal gonorrhea: Pain, itching, and bleeding.
- Eye gonorrhea: Red, swollen, and painful eyes.
Complications of gonorrhea?
If untreated, gonorrhea can mess up your reproductive system, cause painful infections, and even spread to your bloodstream. Women can develop pelvic inflammatory disease(PID), while men risk testicular inflammation.
Treatment?
Good news! Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics. But here’s the thing—some types of gonorrhea are becoming stronger and harder to treat. That’s why doctors usually give two medicines:
- An injection (quick and powerful!)
- Oral antibiotics (pills you take for a few days)
If the first treatment doesn’t work, the doctor will give you a different antibiotic to take for 7 days.
Prevention: Protect yourself?
- Use condoms
- Get tested regularly
- Stick to one faithful partner