Gonorrhea happens to be a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is due to the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea. It could also lead to long-term health problems and infertility, but antibiotics can indeed cure it and also reduce the chance of complications.
What Is Gonorrhea?
This video explains what you need to know about gonorrhea.
This common STI does tend to target warm, moist areas of one’s body, including the:
- Urethra, or tube that drains urine from the bladder.
- Eyes.
- Throat.
- Vagina.
- Anus.
- female reproductive tract, which includes the fallopian tubes, cervix, and also uterus.
Gonorrhea can rather affect people of any age, anatomy, or even gender, but it is particularly common among teens and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24.
Treatment of gonorrhea in men
Modern antibiotics rather cure gonorrhea in several cases. The person cannot treat gonorrhea with over-the-counter or home remedies. Treatment from a healthcare professional is advisable for gonorrhea in men.
How is gonorrhea transmitted?
People can contract or transmit gonorrhea by having oral, anal, or vaginal sex. The use of a condom or other barrier method when engaging in sexual activity can indeed go a long way toward lowering one’s chances of transmitting or contracting STIs like gonorrhea. Just keep in mind that these barrier methods will not always eliminate one’s risk, especially if the person does not use them properly.
If you developed gonorrhea before, you have a higher chance of contracting it again. Untreated gonorrhea can also increase your risk of contracting other STIs. Gonorrhea can also be transmitted from birthing parent to baby during delivery.
Symptoms of gonorrhea
You may not always notice any symptoms if you have gonorrhea. But even if asymptomatic, a carrier means the person has no symptoms but can still transmit gonorrhea.
The person might even be more likely to transmit it to one’s sexual partner(s) when the person does not have any symptoms, as he or she may not be aware of having the infection.
The affected person is more likely to notice signs and also symptoms of gonorrhea in the morning.
If having a penis
The person may develop noticeable symptoms of gonorrhea within 2 to 30 days after exposure. It can take several weeks for symptoms to appear, even the first symptom to be noticed
Other possible symptoms include:
- Greater frequency or urgency of urination.
- A pus-like discharge or drip from one’s penis (this discharge can be yellow, white, beige, or even greenish).
- Discoloration and swelling at the penis opening.
- Testicular swelling or pain.
- Itching and soreness in one’s anus.
- Rectal bleeding or discharge.
- Pain when having bowel movements.
If having a vagina
Several people with a vagina do not develop any symptoms of gonorrhea. Symptoms they experience can show up anywhere from a day or even so to several weeks after being exposed.
These symptoms are often fairly mild. What is more, they can indeed seem very similar to symptoms of vaginal yeast or other bacterial infections.
Possible symptoms include:
- Watery, creamy, or greenish vaginal discharge.
- Pain or burning while urinating.
- An urge to urinate more frequently.
- Heavier periods or spotting between periods.
- Pain during penetrative vaginal sex.
- Sharp pain in one’s lower abdomen.
- Itching and soreness in the anus.
- Rectal bleeding or even discharge.
- Painful bowel movements.
More symptoms:
- Sore throat.
- Inflammation and redness in one’s throat.
- Swelling in the lymph nodes in your neck.
- Gonorrhea can also cause a fever.
Rarely, gonorrhea can spread to one’s eyes. This typically happens if the person touches his or her genitals, or the site of the infection, and then touches the eye before thoroughly washing one’s hands.
Symptoms of gonococcal conjunctivitis, or gonorrhea of the eye, can include:
- Eye pain, irritation, and tenderness.
- Eyelid swelling.
- Eye inflammation and redness.
- Stringy white or yellow mucus around one’s eye.
Conclusion
It is advisable to consult a healthcare provider to treat gonorrhea in men.
