Gonorrhoea

Overview

Gonorrhoea is a condition that affects both men and women. Caused by bacteria that is transmitted through sexual contact, the parts affected are urethra, rectum, throat and cervix (for women).

Signs and Symptoms

Symptomless majority of the time, when they do manifest, the symptoms include the following.

In men:

Pain during urination
Discharge (pus) from the penis
Inflammation in testicle

In women:

Pain during urination
Pain in pelvic region
More than usual discharge from vagina
Bleeding in-between period cycles
Bleeding after sexual intercourse

Causes and Risk Factors

Caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the most common cause of gonorrhoea is sexual transmission from one person to another.

Risk factors include:

Women below 25 years being sexually active
Homosexual contact between men
Having many partners for sex
History of gonorrhoea or other sexually transmitted disease

Complications

Gonorrhoea can affect the uterus in women leading to infertility.
Gonorrhoea can cause inflammation in the testicles leading to infertility among men.
Patients with gonorrhoea are more susceptible to infection by HIV.
Babies born to mothers with gonorrhoea could be blind and have scalp infection.
Gonorrhoea can also spread to other parts causing fever, rashes, etc.

Diagnosis

Urine test to check for the bacteria in urine sample
Swab to get sample cells of the affected part – throat, vagina, etc. The samples are then analysed in the laboratory to confirm gonorrhoea.

Surgery/Treatment

Gonorrhoea in adults and babies (who have got it from their mothers) can be treated with antibiotics. It is essential that the person’s partner also be treated with antibiotics even if they are asymptomatic.

Prevention

Having only one partner for sex
Using condom during sex
Undergoing regular screening when there is more than one sex partner