Preventing Gonorrhea

What Is Gonorrhea? Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It grows and multiplies in warm, moist areas like the reproducti e tract, mouth, throat, eyes, and anus. How Do I Get Gonorrhea? Gonorrhea is passed !rom person"to"person during contact with the penis, agina, mouth, or anus. #$aculation does %&T ha e to occur !or gonorrhea to be transmitted. 'ou ()% get gonorrhea !rom* +aginal, anal, or oral sex ,eing born to an in!ected mother 'ou ()%%&T get gonorrhea !rom* Toilet seats, clothing, doorknobs, etc. Swimming pools or hot tubs 'ou can get gonorrhea again (be re"in!ected) e en i! you had it be!ore and were success!ully treated. -e"in!ection is particularly dangerous in women because multiple in!ections increase the risk o! reproducti e health complications, including in!ertility. .a ing a gonorrhea in!ection makes it /"0 times easier to get .I+ (i! exposed), and easier to transmit .I+ on to others. How Do I Know I Have Gonorrhea? 1ost in!ections produce !ew or no symptoms. # en i! there are no symptoms, the in!ection can cause serious health problems, including in!ertility. ,ecause many people in!ected with gonorrhea don2t know that they ha e it, it2s important to get tested, e en i! you don2t ha e signs or symptoms. The test !or gonorrhea is done with a ery simple urine sample or with a painless swab. 3ossible symptoms o! gonorrhea in!ection include* Genital In!ections 4omen o ,urning sensation when urinating o Increased aginal discharge or bleeding between periods o 4omen with untreated gonorrhea may de elop* 3el ic In!lammatory Disease (3ID)5a serious condition that can chronic pel ic pain, damage to a woman2s reproducti e organs, in!ertility, and ectopic pregnancy, which can be !atal in!ection o! the blood and $oints, which can be !atal

Preventing Gonorrhea (continued)

1en o ,urning sensation when urinating o 4hite, yellow, or green discharge !rom penis o 3ain!ul or swollen testicles o 1en with untreated gonorrhea may de elop* a serious and pain!ul condition o! the testicles called epididymitis, which can lead to in!ertility in!ection o! the blood and $oints, which can be !atal

-ectal In!ections (!rom anal sex) 1ay cause no symptoms Discharge !rom the penis or agina )nal itching, soreness, or bleeding 3ain!ul bowel mo ements Throat in!ections (!rom oral sex) 6sually causes no symptoms Sore throat or a dry, scratchy throat. How Is Gonorrhea Cured? Gonorrhea can easily be cured with antibiotics. 4hile the antibiotics can stop the in!ection, they can2t repair the damage that has already been done. So it2s important to get medical care as early as possible and to take all medications the healthcare pro ider prescribes !or you. ,ecause you can become re"in!ected with gonorrhea, it is important that all your sex partners get tested and treated. 'ou should not ha e sex until you5and your sex partners5ha e completed treatment.

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How Do I Keep From Getting Gonorrhea? -educe your risk. .ere are some strategies to reduce your chances o! getting gonorrhea and other STDs* )bstinence (a oiding any kind o! sex) -egular testing .a ing sex with only one partner who only has sex with you (mutual monogamy 'ou and your partner getting tested !or STDs Good communication between partners about sexual history and risky beha ior 7atex condoms (used consistently and correctly) ) oiding alcohol and drugs (which can impair your ability to make sa!e and smart decisions) 4hat doesnt wor to pre ent gonorrhea* 83ulling out9 (remo ing the penis !rom the agina or rectum be!ore e$aculation occurs) 6sing hormonal birth control (like pill, the shot, the patch) alone without a condom 4ashing genitals, urinating, or douching a!ter sex

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