Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is the second most common STI caused by Neisseria Gonorrhoea. In Canada 9,200 cases were reported in the year 2004

Signs & Symptoms
If you catch gonorrhea from an infected partner, you might not notice any symptoms. If you do, they will appear in 2-6 days after the sexual contact. Even if you do not have symptoms, you can have gonorrhea and pass it to others unknowingly.

Men:

• Discharge from the penis (thick and purulent)
• Burning sensation during urination
• Possible Rectal pain and /or Rectal discharge

Women:

• New, thick and purulent discharge from the Cervix/Vagina
• A burning feeling when urinating
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Pain during intercourse
• Possible rectal pain and /or Rectal discharge
• Pharyngeal Infection
• Late Manifestation – Arthritis

Testing
Urine, Swab from Urethra, Vagina, Rectum & Pharynx

Treatment for Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is completely cured with antibiotics. Majority of the times it is associated with Chlamydia infection, so both conditions needs to be treated.

Complications if Untreated

• In women, it causes Ectopic Pregnancy, PID and infertility
• A pregnant woman can pass gonorrhea to her baby during birth and cause a serious eye infection or blindness (Ophthalmia Neonatorum)
• Arthritis in both men and women if the infection is disseminated