Gonorrhea is a type of bacteria that is transmitted via sex. Affecting males and females, gonorrhea can infect the urethra, rectum, throat, and cervix. Gonorrhea is spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with a person who is infected with the sexually transmitted disease (STD). Gonorrhea can also be passed from a mother to her baby during childbirth.
Signs & Symptoms of Gonorrhea
Many people who have gonorrhea never have any signs or symptoms of the disease at all. A lack of any symptoms is more common amongst women, although some men will also be symptom-free despite carrying the bacteria. The symptoms of gonorrhea in men and women are different. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the symptoms of gonorrhea in women include:
- Pain when urinating
- Vaginal discharge
- Unusual vaginal bleeding that is not related to menstruation
In men, the symptoms of gonorrhea include:
- Pain and burning sensation when urinating
- Discharge from the penis
- Swollen or/and painful testicles.
Both men and women may also contract anal gonorrhea, the symptoms of which include discharge, soreness, bleeding, painful bowel movements, and itching.
Because the symptoms may go unnoticed, even a transparent, honest partner may transmit gonorrhea to you without their knowledge. Joining the SeroMatch community and knowing for a fact what STDs your partner does and does not have is a critical element to avoid a gonorrhea infection.
Complications of Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea can cause serious health complications in both men and women who suffer from the STD. The Mayo Clinic reports that the most common complications of untreated gonorrhea include infertility in both men and women, infection that can spread to the joints and other areas of the body, an increased risk of HIV/AIDS, and complications in babies for pregnant women, including blindness, sores, and other infections.
Preventing and Treating Gonorrhea
The only way to prevent spreading or contracting an STD is to abstain from having sex. Other ways of reducing your risk of contracting or spreading gonorrhea include always using a condom, and refraining from having sex with multiple partners. Our users find that abstinence is a little aggressive and that a condom alone is not enough protection. Members of the SeroMatch community are only matched up to individuals who have similar statuses.
If you have gonorrhea, there are treatment options available and gonorrhea can be cured. In order to treat gonorrhea, you will need to take antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Often times, antibiotics are given via injection. While treatment for gonorrhea can cure the disease, it cannot reverse any damage that has already been caused.
Get Tested, Stay Safe
If you are having sex with multiple partners, have any of the signs or symptoms of gonorrhea, or if you plan to have sex with a new partner who has not been tested, it is important that you take precautions. Not only should you get tested yourself with SeroMatch’s discreet and accurate, Web-based gonorrhea screening, but you should be sure to use protection with your partner(s) as well. To reduce your risk of contracting the STD, make sure that your potential partners are screened for gonorrhea before things get physical by only dating within the SeroMatch community. From STD testing to matching your results with other users, SeroMatch is the safest dating option for sexually active singles.