During sex, the bacterium attaches to these membranes and rapidly makes copies of itself.
Who Has the Highest Risk?
Beyond age and sex, the risk factors for gonorrhea mirror those of other common STIs.
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gonorrhoeae(see section Gonorrhea Complications below).
Symptoms also differ significantly between males and females.
Symptoms include:
Symptoms of gonorrhea will most often appear two to five days after infection.
These include:
Most symptomatic women will develop urinary or vaginal symptoms within 10 days of infection.
This is especially true among women, Nearly 50% of women will have no symptoms at all.
Historically, antibiotic resistance occurred when people treated for gonorrhea failed to complete the prescribed course ofantibiotics.
This allowed incidental mutations ofN.
gonorrhoeaeto persist rather than being killed, some of which were resistant to antibiotics.
Even so, isolated cases of ceftriaxone-resistantN.
gonorrhoeaehave been reported due to unchecked infection and reinfection rates.
Today, the primary form of diagnosis ispolymerase chain reaction (PCR).
These are tests that can detect genetic evidence ofN.
gonorrhoeaefrom either a urine sample or a swab of fluids from the genitals, rectum, or throat.
The test can be purchased online for $99.
Insurance may cover some of the cost.
gonorrhoeaewithin two days of infection, healthcare providers will often advise you to wait a week before getting tested.
This is because the concentration ofN.
Bacterial concentrations can also be lower if you have mild or no symptoms.
Testing prematurely can lead to afalse-negative result.This is when you have the infection, but the test is negative.
This includes public health clinics, many of which offer free or low-cost STI testing.
Organizations like Planned Parenthood may also offer affordable testing and treatment.
The preferred form of treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhea is a singleintramuscular (IM) injectionof an antibiotic calledceftriaxone.
The injection is given into the upper part of the buttocks.
Pharyngeal gonorrhea is somewhat harder to treat, with studies suggesting a cure rate of around 90%.
Other antibiotics may be used if you are allergic to ceftriaxone or cannot take it for other reasons.
The doses are prescribed in milligrams (mg) or grams (g).
If the initial treatment has failed, another round of antibiotics would be prescribed.
This helps check for gonorrhea reinfection, which affects one in seven treated individuals, often within three months.
Sexual partners should also be treated.
This ensures that the bacterium is completely cleared and your partner is safe from infection.
Every effort should be made to avoid reinfection, which increases the risk of severe complications and antibiotic resistance.
As effective as it is inpreventing HIV, PrEP does not protect against any other STI.
How Long Until Gonorrhea Goes Away?
While most cases ofN.
gonorrhoeaeare self-limiting, the rate and duration of clearance are largely dependent on whether you are asymptomatic or symptomatic.
This reduces the spread of infection, including transmission during pregnancy, and prevents otherwise avoidable complications.
Talking to Partners
Consent for sex and protection from gonorrhea should involve mutual agreement.
This includes a discussion about mutual screening of gonorrhea and other common STIs.
People at increased risk may require routine STI screening; ask your healthcare providers which tests are recommended.
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“I’m a top!
How did I get gonorrhea in my butt?”
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Heres how to talk to your partner about STIs.
