S E X U A L L Y
T R A N S M I T T E D D I S E A S E S:
Gonorrhea
What is it? Infections are caused either by viruses (like HIV) or bacteria. Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection.
How do you get it? Gonorrhea is transmitted from person to person in only one way:
- Unprotected sexual contact (vaginal, oral, or anal) with someone who has gonorrhea.
What are the symptoms? Women and men may have different symptoms from gonorrhea.
WOMEN:
- Pelvic pain
- It hurts to pee
- Vaginal discharge (thick, yellowish liquid)
- Fever
- Blood or pus from the anus
- Sore throat
Sometimes there are no symptoms and a woman can still have gonorrhea.
MEN:
- It hurts to pee
- Discharge from the penis (thick, yellowish liquid)
- Blood or pus from the anus
- Sore throat
Sometimes there are no symptoms and a man can still have gonorrhea.
How can you know for sure? A sample of discharge is sent to a medical lab for testing.
How is it treated? Because gonorrhea is cause by bacteria it can be treated with antibiotics (bacteria killing drugs). All other sexual partners should be treated at the same time or the infection can spread.
What can happen if you don't take care of it? Severe infection of the reproductive organs. Infertility (inability to have children). Heart trouble. Skin disease. Arthritis (joint disease). If a woman has gonorrhea when she gives birth, the infection can be passed on to her newborn and cause eye damage to the baby. The infection can spread to other sexual partners.
UNPROTECTED SEX PUTS YOU AT RISK FOR GETTING GONORRHEA.
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