Gonorrhea "The Clap"

What is gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a very common STD, with over a half a million cases of infection each year. Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium that can grow and multiply in the warm, moist areas of a woman’s reproductive system, like the urethra, cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.
Return to Top

How do I know if I or a partner has gonorrhea?

As with many STDs, many women have either mild symptoms or no symptoms when infected with gonorrhea. Even when a woman has symptoms, she often mistakes them for common ailments like a bladder or vaginal infection. Symptoms at the beginning of an infection include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, an increase in vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding in between periods. Symptoms of gonorrhea infection in the rectum include discharge, itching, soreness, bleeding, painful bowel movements—or no symptoms at all. Infections can also occur in a woman’s throat causing a sore throat, but often she will have no symptoms.

Some men with gonorrhea will also have no symptoms. Some men will have symptoms that begin two to five days after they have become infected, but other men will have symptoms that appear as long as 30 days after they have become infected. Symptoms for men include a burning sensation when urinating and a white, yellow or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes a man infected with gonorrhea will have painful or swollen testicles.
Return to Top

How do women get gonorrhea and how is it diagnosed?

A woman can become infected with gonorrhea through contact with a man’s penis, mouth, or anus. You can get gonorrhea even if the man does not ejaculate (come). That is because the bacteria can be on the penis or in the “pre-come” fluids. Gonorrhea can also be spread from a woman to her baby during delivery. Even if you are treated for gonorrhea you can get it again. You can get it from another partner, but more likely you will get it from your same partner if he is not treated at the very same time you are or doesn’t finish all the medication.

Several lab tests can diagnose gonorrhea. The health care provider swabs the vagina, urethra, rectum, or throat with a cotton swab and sends this to the lab. It takes a few days for the results to come back. Sometimes you can give a urine sample for testing, but this might miss oral or rectal gonorrhea.
Return to Top

What are the complications of untreated gonorrhea?

If a woman has gonorrhea but goes untreated, she can experience serious and permanent health problems. For women, gonorrhea is a common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Untreated gonorrhea can also cause damage to the fallopian tubes resulting in infertility. Gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints and this complication of gonorrhea can be life threatening. A woman with gonorrhea is much more vulnerable to becoming infected with HIV if she is exposed, compared to women without gonorrhea. A woman who is HIV positive who becomes infected with gonorrhea is also more likely to pass HIV on to her sexual partner.
Return to Top

What is the treatment for gonorrhea?

Several antibiotics can successfully cure gonorrhea. However, drug-resistant strains are increasing in many areas of the world, including the United States. Because many people with gonorrhea also have chlamydia, antibiotics for both infections are usually given together. Because these infections often occur together, women with gonorrhea should also be tested for other STDs. To avoid becoming reinfected with a resistant strain of gonorrhea, it is very important to take all the medication prescribed to treat gonorrhea. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not repair any permanent damage caused by the disease. Women who have had gonorrhea and have been treated can get the disease again if they have sexual contact with an infected partner.
Return to Top