Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) also called 'the clap' or 'a dose'. This infection is caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person or from mother to child during birth. The rate of reported cases of gonorrhea has increased by more than 40% over the last five years. Gonorrhea is most common in people less than 30 years of age and in males.

It can take anywhere from two to 21 days after contact to develop symptoms, although some women may not develop any symptoms. If women experience symptoms, they may include a burning feeling while urinating, unusual vaginal discharge, fever, chills, pain during sex, vaginal bleeding periods or after sex and rectal pain or discharge. If left untreated, gonorrhea may result in pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal pregnancy and infertility. In men, the infection may cause a burning feeling while urinating, discharge from the penis, pain or swelling in the testicles and rectal pain or discharge.

Gonorrhea can be diagnosed with a urine test or a swab of the mucus from the cervix or penis. An antibiotic can effectively cure gonorrhea and prevent long-term problems if it is treated early. It is common for a person to have both Chlamydia and gonorrhea at the same time, so the doctor may prescribe two antibiotics together to treat these infections. It is important that all sexual partners within the last 60 days be seen by a doctor to be tested and treated. Sex should be avoided until the antibiotic prescriptions are finished and all symptoms are gone.

Using a diaphragm with a spermicide or condoms can effectively prevent gonorrhea. The risk of getting gonorrhea increases in people who have multiple or casual sexual partners, new sexual partners and those who engage in sexual activity related to the use of drugs. Women at risk of gonorrhea should be screened for the infections while undergoing their routine Pap test.

Consult your pharmacist for further information about gonorrhea. For more information about this and other STDs on the internet, visit Health Canada's Sexually Transmitted Infections website at

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/publicat/std-mts/sti_h.html ,

Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre - Women's Health Matters at

http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/centres/sex/infections/gonorrhea.html

or U.S. Centers for Disease Control

http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/Fact_Sheets/FactsGonorrhea.htm.