Gonorrhea, aka, the Clap

Gonorrhea, which is often called �the clap,� is a curable STD that is caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is transmitted through sexual contact and can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, throat, and urethra, or the urinary canal. Eight out of ten women with gonorrhea have no symptoms. Women who ARE symptomatic may experience bleeding between periods, painful urination, or vaginal discharge. Conversely, nine out of ten men with the infection DO experience symptoms, including painful urination, penile discharge, or swollen testicles. Gonorrhea of the anus may show up as painful bowel movements, or bleeding from the anus. Meanwhile, gonorrhea of the throat occasionally manifests as soreness in this area. A person experiencing any of these symptoms should immediately see a doctor for a gonorrhea test. The most common way to test for gonorrhea is to obtain swabs from the areas likely to be infected and send them away for testing. In some cases, a doctor may perform a Gram stain, whereby cells are taken from the cervix or urethra, stained with dye, and examined under a microscope in the doctor�s office. If the test comes back positive, a doctor should also screen for other STDs, as having gonorrhea may increase your risk of contracting other infections. It�s also important to receive treatment immediately, because the disease can be very serious. In women, gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. This condition can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes, increasing the risk of infertility. A woman with untreated gonorrhea is also more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy, a potentially fatal condition whereby a fertilized egg develops OUTSIDE the uterus in a woman�s fallopian tubes. Gonorrhea can also spread from the urethra to the testicles in men, leading to epidiymitis, a condition which can cause infertility. If a pregnant woman contracts the disease, she can also pass gonorrhea to her infant during birth. Rarely, untreated gonorrhea can also lead to disseminated gonococcal infection, which can cause arthritis and skin lesions in both genders. A gonorrhea infection can increase the risk that a person will contract HIV, OR that a person already infected with HIV will spread it. For all of these serious reasons, a doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear up gonorrhea. An infected person will need to notify ALL sexual contacts so that they, too, can be tested and treated at the same time. During treatment, partners should abstain from sex until a follow-up test demonstrates that the infection has cleared. Of course, the only way to avoid contracting gonorrhea is to refrain from having sex. However, a male or female condom can also offer protection against gonorrhea�s transmission. Gonorrhea is one of the most common STDs, so it�s important for sexually active individuals to receive regular testing, and to talk to their partners about safer sex practices.