Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea left untreated can cause serious symptoms in men and women.
What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria. It can infect both men and women. It can cause infection in the genitals, rectum and throat.
What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
Many people with gonorrhea have no symptoms and can spread the infection to others without knowing it.
Some women with gonorrhea may experience:
- new or different discharge from the vagina
- pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes with fever or chills
- burning sensation when urinating
- pain during sex
- vaginal bleeding between periods
- vaginal bleeding after sex
- rectal pain
- rectal discharge
Some men with gonorrhea may experience:
- burning sensation when urinating
- swelling or pain in the testicles
- rectal pain
- rectal discharge
- thick, yellow-green discharge from the penis
You should be examined by a health care provider right away if you or your sexual partner has any symptoms of gonorrhea infection.
How is gonorrhea spread?
Gonorrhea is passed from person to person during oral, vaginal or anal sex. It can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth.
How is gonorrhea diagnosed?
- Urine samples are collected.
- Swab specimens are taken from a woman’s cervix, the tip of a man’s penis, or from the throat or rectum.
*Testing and treatment of your recent sexual partner(s) is recommended whether they have symptoms or not.
STI testing
- Our Sexual Health Clinics offer free, confidential testing and counselling services.
How is gonorrhea treated?
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics that are prescribed by a health care provider.
Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious health problems in both men and women.
How is gonorrhea prevented?
Follow these tips to help minimize your risk of getting infected with gonorrhea:
- Practice safe sex.
- If you are sexually active, get tested for gonorrhea.
- Talk to your partner(s) about whether they have been tested for STIs.
- If you are infected, avoid unprotected sexual activities until both you and your partner(s) have completed your antibiotic treatments and are free of infection.
- If you are infected, you (or your public health unit) must inform your sexual partner(s) that they may have been put at risk of infection with gonorrhea.
Testing for gonorrhea and other STIs, plus other sexual health services, is available at our Elm Place office in Sudbury and through our offices in Chapleau, Espanola, Sudbury East and on Manitoulin Island. For more information phone 705.522.9200 or call us toll-free at 1.866.522.9200.
Source:
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/health-sante/sexual-sexuelle/gonorrh-eng.php
This item was last modified on October 8, 2020