Gonorrhea refers to an infection that infects both men and women. A bacterium caused this disease during sexual intercourse. Most often this disease affects the urethra, throat or rectum.
It infects the area of the cervix of females. The spread of gonorrhea occurs due to anal, oral, or vaginal sex.
Diagnosis
The doctor takes a sample of cells from your body to analyze whether you have the disease of gonorrhea or not. They can collect samples by;
- Urine Test: It helps to identify bacteria that are present in the area of your urethra.
- Swab Of Affected Region: A swab of your vagina, throat, or urethra can collect the specific bacteria. Doctors identify this bacteria in the lab.
Home test kits are present that women can use at home to identify gonorrhea. It includes specific vaginal swabs that are available for self-testing. Women can send these swabs to the lab for the purpose of testing. Provide your contact details to the lab.
Select the option to be notified by a text message or email when your results are complete. You can easily check your results online or receive reports by calling a hotline.
Testing For Some Other Infections That Can Be Sexually Transmitted
Doctors may also recommend some tests to check if you have other diseases that can be transmitted sexually. Gonorrhea enhances your risk of developing other infections, specifically chlamydia. This infection accompanies this sexually transmitted disease, gonorrhea.
Anyone who is diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection is recommended to be tested for HIV. It is also beneficial to be tested for other infections that can be transmitted sexually.
Treatment
Details about the treatment of gonorrhea are given below.
Treatment Of Gonorrhea In Adults
Doctors give antibiotics to adults that are diagnosed with gonorrhea. The Center for Diseases Control and Prevention advises that doctors should treat uncomplicated gonorrhea with antibiotic ceftriaxone. They give this antibiotic through injection with azithromycin.
Azithromycin can be given orally to adult patients. Your doctor might prescribe you oral gemifloxacin (Factive) if you are allergic to an antibiotic named cephalosporin. They can also recommend injectable gentamicin and azithromycin that can be taken orally.
Treatment Of Gonorrhea For Partners
Your partner should be tested for gonorrhea. He/she should also take proper treatment of gonorrhea even if they have no symptoms. Your partner goes through the same treatment that you receive. Even if you are well treated for gonorrhea, your partner can still have it.
Gonorrhea Treatment In Babies
Doctors give antibiotics to babies who are born with gonorrhea and take the infection from their mothers.
Be Prepared For Your Appointment
Go to visit a general practitioner or your family doctor. Ask about important steps that you can do before the appointment in advance like the restriction of specific food items in your diet. You should prepare a list of:
- Symptoms: Note the symptoms even if they are not related to gonorrhea to tell the doctor.
- Medications, Supplements, Or Vitamins: Note all the medications, supplements, or vitamins that you are taking.
- Questions: Write the questions that you want to ask your doctor.
You can ask the following questions from your doctor about the disease of gonorrhea.
- Ask about the test you will have
- Ask your doctor if he will test you for other diseases that can transmit sexually
- Make a question whether your partner should be tested for this disease or not
- Take guidelines about the prevention of gonorrhea in the future
- Ask your doctor about the complications of gonorrhea to be active
- Ask the health care professional if you need a follow-up visit
Prevention
Do not freak out if you are diagnosed with gonorrhea. It can be cured but make sure you do not transfer this disease to others.
- Reveal about gonorrhea to your past and present sexual partners so they can be tested for it too to take a proper treatment.
- Do not have sexual intercourse with anyone until your reports are clear.
- Your sex partners should also take proper treatment before having sex with anyone else.
- You can continue sexual intercourse once you are done with the treatment. It’s good to use condoms every time you do sex.
It is not fun to reveal your disease to someone. But this infection is common and you can recover from it completely. Do not feel embarrassed about your disease. Take proper treatment instead of stress for quick recovery.
