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As of 2020, some 7.5 million people in Africa had gonorrhoea. Now, that is a huge number! Truthfully, STIs are closer than we think, with most being asymptomatic, like Trichomoniasis, or with late symptoms.
Gonorrhoea is one of the oldest and most prevalent STIs, after HIV, Syphilis, and Chlamydia. But this doesn't make it less dangerous, as all STIs pose significant threats to human health.
One of the reasons Gonorrhoea is so common is that it is also asymptomatic in some cases, and most people don’t even know they have it. So, there’s a need for you to ‘shine your eyes.’
It can affect anyone of any gender but is more common among teenagers and youths between the ages of 15-24.
Gonorrhoea also called the clap, is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, affecting both males and females.
The causative bacterium tends to dwell in and infect moist areas in the body, including:
In women, it also affects the
The most common mode of transfer of Gonorrhoea is through sex, either vaginal, oral or anal. Other possible ways of infection include:
Also, the chance of contracting Gonorrhoea is higher if you have had it before. And when left untreated, you are vulnerable to other STIs and long-term health conditions like infertility.
But you can cure Gonorrhoea and lower your chances of other health complications when you treat it with antibiotics.
The symptoms of gonorrhoea aren’t always visible. Most times, the symptoms don’t show at all if you are an asymptomatic carrier. But that will not stop the infection from spreading.
However, according to Planned Parenthood, you may likely observe the symptoms of gonorrhoea more in the morning. So Mr., please be on the lookout!
When Gonorrhoea is not asymptomatic, you will develop visible signs within the first 2-30 days after contracting the bacteria. Meaning it could take several weeks to show up.
The first sign you’ll notice is burning or pain when urinating. You might also experience these symptoms:
As we mentioned earlier, the causative bacterium of Gonorrhoea affects moist areas of the body. And when it does, there are also symptoms.
In the mouth and throat, the symptoms of Gonorrhoea include:
Gonorrhoea rarely spreads to the eyes except when transferred from mother to child. But it can affect your eyes if you happen to touch your eyes after touching your genitals or any other site of infection without thoroughly washing your hands.
The symptoms of gonorrhoea in the eye or gonococcal conjunctivitis include:
Gonorrhoea affects the joints in the knee, hands and feet. If the bacteria affects one or more of your joints, the joints are warm, swollen, red, and very painful, especially during movement.
In some cases, gonorrhoea can cause a fever.
In women, there might not be any symptoms. Although, symptoms may also appear a few days to several weeks after exposure, just as in men. The symptoms are similar to vaginal yeast infection and may be mild, making it hard to identify. That's why it is advisable to do tests.
Possible symptoms include:
If you or your partner develops any of these symptoms, it is time to take a break from some action and see your doctor!
In case you’re wondering if you could swing by gonorrhoea like a light headache without duly treating it, then you need to know you can’t.
Without properly dealing with Gonorrhoea, not only do you have the chance of contracting it again, it could lead to damaging health conditions. We’ll look at a few for clarity.
In men, untreated gonorrhoea can lead to the following:
Untreated infections can also spread to your bloodstream causing rare but serious complications such as arthritis and heart valve damage.
Women are more vulnerable to long-term complications from untreated gonorrhoea than men. Asides from gonorrhoea, other STIs like chlamydia can migrate into the reproductive tract affecting the reproductive organs. In worse cases, it can escalate to pelvic inflammatory disease causing severe damage to the organs. The complications that accompany untreated gonorrhoea in women are:
Whenever you notice any symptoms, the next thing you need to do is a test. To determine whether or not you have gonorrhoea, a healthcare professional will have to run a diagnosis. There are a few ways:
In rare cases, your healthcare provider may test your blood. Your results should be ready after a few hours or days, depending on the clinic or lab.
Since gonorrhoea increases your risk of having other infections, it is advisable to test for other STIs, particularly Chlamydia which often accompanies gonorrhoea.
With advances in health, most instances of gonorrhoea can be treated with modern antibiotics.
Note that you can’t treat gonorrhoea with over-the-counter medications or homemade cures. Rather see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment if you suspect you might have gonorrhoea or if your partner has a positive test result.
Antibiotic ceftriaxone is the recommended treatment for gonorrhoea. It is a one-time intramuscular injection, and you’d typically get this shot in the buttocks.
Your healthcare professional may likely prescribe an oral medication, such as:
CDC previously recommended ceftriaxone plus azithromycin. But because the bacteria that cause gonorrhoea are growing more resistant to azithromycin, the guidelines were altered.
You should see symptom relief within a few days after taking these antibiotics, but you must wait a week after completing your medication before engaging in any sexual activity.
There’s no vaccine for the prevention of gonorrhoea. However, health researchers are working to develop one.
The most effective and safest way to prevent gonorrhoea and other STIs is through abstinence.
You could also use a condom or other barrier method when you have any form of sex to help lower your risk of contracting many STIs.
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