Gonorrhea - The Clap

What is it?

Gonorrhea is sometimes called “the clap” (though as they say…gonorrhea is nothing to clap about). It used to be very common but it is easily treated now so not as many people have it. Gonorrhea is a bacterium that grows in warm moist areas of your body including the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes for women and the urethra for both men and women. It can also grow in your mouth, throat, eyes and anus.


How do you get it?

By having unprotected vaginal or anal sex with someone who is already infected.
By having oral sex without a condom or dental dam with someone who is infected.
By touching your hand with infected fluid to your eye.
From mother to child during birth – if a mother has gonorrhea it can infect the baby as it passes through the birth canal and cause serious eye infections. This can be prevented with treatment.


How do you avoid it?

Abstain from sex altogether.
Engage in safer sexual practices like kissing, hugging, touching and massage.
Limit how many sexual partners you have (less partners means you are less likely to get an STI).
Think about your partner’ sexual history (if he or she has had a lot of partners and/or does not practise safer sex then it puts you at a higher risk).
Use male and female condoms for vaginal and anal sex.
Use dental dams or condoms for oral sexb.


Symptoms

Most people do not get any symptoms and gonorrhea can be mistaken for a bladder infection. That is why is it important to let your sexual partners know if you test positive for it. If a person does get symptoms, here’s what they may look like:

Symptoms for women:
A thick discharge of pus from the vagina (yellowish-white in color).
Bleeding or spotting between periods.
Vaginal pain.
Burning when you pee.
Sore throat.
Rectal pain, itching or bleeding.
A discharge from the anus.

Symptoms for men:
A thick discharge of pus from the penis.
Frequent need to pee and burning when you do pee.
Painful and swollen testicles.
Rectal pain, itching or bleeding.
A discharge from the anus.


Testing

If you suspect you have gonorrhea, you need to get tested. A doctor or nurse will take a swab of the infected area (cervix, urethra, rectum or throat) or you can take a simple urine test. Do not assume that this test is included in your regular pap test - ask for a gonnorhea test.


Treatment

Gonorrhea is cured with oral antibiotics. Follow your healthcare professional’s instructions and make sure to complete the entire round of drugs even if your symptoms disappear earlier.


If Left Untreated

If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to more serious problems. It can infect your joints and lead to heart problems down the road. In women, it can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (link) which can cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility and problems during pregnancy. In men it can cause prostrate swelling and infections in the epididymis which can lead to infertility if not treated.