Get the facts about Gonorrhea

What is Gonorrhea?

• Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects millions of people every year.
• Gonorrhea is caused by a germ you can get from any sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of a person who has the disease.
• People with gonorrhea can spread the disease to their eyes if they touch the germs and then touch their eyes.
• Babies can get gonorrhea during childbirth if the mother has it.

Many people do not know that they have Gonorrhea.

• Many people who have gonorrhea look and feel perfectly healthy.
• Even if you don't have symptoms, you can still pass gonorrhea to other people.
• Often, people who have gonorrhea do not realize they have the disease until they have severe health problems.

Gonorrhea can be dangerous.

Gonorrhea can be very harmful for both women and men if it isn't treated early.

In woman it can cause:

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), a painful infection of the sex organs that can make a woman sterile.
• Arthritis.
• Heart Problems.

In men it can cause:

• Painful swelling of the testicles.
• Sterility.
• Arthritis.
• Heart Problems.

How do you know if you have Gonorrhea?

The only way to be sure is to get tested at your doctor's office or an STD clinic. The test is usually easy - a doctor will take a sample of fluid from your penis or vagina and send it to a lab.

Most women and many men with gonorrhea have no symptoms. If you do have symptoms they may include:

Men:

• Discharge from the penis.
• Burning or pain when urinating
• Frequent urination.

Women:

• Discharge.
• Bleeding between periods.
• Burning or pain when urinating.
• Pain in the lower belly or lower back.

Gonorrhea can be cured!

Gonorrhea can be cured by taking medicine prescribed by a health care provider.

If you have gonorrhea:

• Take all of the medication given to you.
• Follow the health care provider's directions.
• Call your health care provider as soon as possible if the medicine gives you problems.
• Tell your sex partner to get tested, or ask your health care provider to tell them.
• Don't have sex until a health care provider says you and your partner are cured.
• Don't try to treat yourself.
• Don't share your medicine.

Get Tested For Gonorrhea If:

• You and your sex partner have symptoms of gonorrhea.
• You have had more than one sex partner, male or female (the more partners you have, the greater the risk).
• You have had sex without a condom.
• You have another STD.

How Can You Stay Healthy?

The only sure way to avoid gonorrhea and other STD's is to not have sex. Vaginal, oral, and anal sex can all pass the disease from one person to another.

If you do have sex, use a latex condom every time. When used the right way, condoms can help keep you from getting gonorrhea and other STDs.