STD Information » Gonorrhea

Overview

Gonorrhea, also known as "the clap", is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria (Neisseria gonorrhoeae). Gonorrhea is transmitted through all forms of sexual intercourse. Though it is curable, if left untreated, it can cause severe complications.

How is Gonorrhea diagnosed?

There are a few options doctors can use to diagnose gonorrhea. Often, more than one is used to ensure a proper diagnosis.

• Bacterial Staining
  Done in office, more accurate for men than women
• Urine Sample
  Checked for bacteria DNA.
• Culture
  Discharge is swabbed and smeared on a culture plate, allowing bacteria to grow.

How is Gonorrhea treated?

Gonorrhea is easily treated with a single dose of the following antibiotics:

• Cefixime
• Ceftriaxone
• Cephalosporin

Recovery Time

Though gonorrhea is treated by a single dose, it can take several days longer for symptoms to disappear. If your symptoms do not go away after treatment, you should see your doctor for re-evaluation.

Sexual Activity

It is important not to have sex until your symptoms have gone away and you have completed your medication.

Partners and Re-infection

You should refrain from all forms of sexual activity until your body is free from the infection. If you have tested positive for gonorrhea, all your sexual partners should be notified so they can be tested and treated. It is possible to be re-infected, so be sure to use all possible precautionary measures.

Prevention

As with all STD's the only preventative measure sure to keep a person from being infected is complete abstinence. Barring that, a monogamous relationship with someone who has been tested and shown to be disease-free is advised. Using condoms all the time and being sure to use them correctly can dramatically reduce your risk of developing gonorrhea as well.