Gonorrhea is the 2nd most common STI — here’s what you need to know about it

After hitting a historical low in 2009, gonorrhea cases are on the rise in the United States. More than 670,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported to the FDA in 2020, according to the most recent data. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionIt is the second most commonly transmitted sexually after chlamydia.

The rates of reported cases of gonorrhea are up 111% from 2009. But despite its prevalence, many people don’t know a lot about the infection. These are some important facts that you should keep in mind just in case.

It’s not spread by kissing or sharing food.

Gonorrhea, caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeaeInfection spreads via sexual contact, such as through the penis, vaginal, mouth, or anus of infected persons. CDC explains. A person doesn’t need to ejaculate for gonorrhea to be spread. An infectious disease expert says that gonorrhea can be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth. Dr. Amesh AdaljaYahoo Life speaks with a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Having gonorrhea once doesn’t prevent you from getting it again: The CDC says that people who have had gonorrhea and been treated for it can be reinfected if they have sexual contact with someone with gonorrhea.

It’s not uncommon to have gonorrhea and chlamydia at the same time.

Research It has been shown that as high as 50% of teens and young adults who test positive for gonorrhea in STD clinics and family planning centers, juvenile detention centers, and at STD clinics also tested positive for chlamydia. Adalja says this can happen simply because “individuals who have gonorrhea are also likely to have risk factors for chlamydia and vice versa.” And, he points out, “They are both transmitted in the same manner and have the same risks for acquisition.”

Many people with gonorrhea don’t have symptoms.

Most men and women with gonorrhea are asymptomatic — meaning, they don’t have symptoms, the CDC says. Adalja says that the reason is likely to do with individual immune responses. Some people’s immune systems don’t have a strong response to the bacteria and, as a result, don’t trigger symptoms, he explains.

Because many people with gonorrhea may go undiagnosed, “the true number of those who are asymptomatic is not known,” Dr. Nancy PhillipsYahoo Life speaks with Dr. Judith Sullivan, an associate professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and the director of the Center for Vulvovaginal Health.

It may take up to a week for symptoms of the disease to manifest.

Many people suffering from gonorrhea don’t show any symptoms. But for those who do, Phillips says, “in general, symptoms occur within five to 14 days, but may be delayed for months, which may allow the infection to go undetected for quite some time,” she says.

When symptoms do show up, they’re a little different for men and women. According to the CDC, men may experience the following symptoms:

• Urinating causes pain

• Penis discharges can be yellow, green, or white.

• Testicular or scrotal discomfort

According to the CDC, these symptoms may be present in women.

The CDC states that symptoms of gonorrhea can include:

• Discharge

• Itching of the anal

• Soreness

• Bleeding

• Painful bowel movements

There’s a cure for gonorrhea.

Untreated gonorrhea could cause severe and long-lasting health issues. According to the CDC, infertility can occur when the bacteria spreads to the uterus and fallopian tubes in women. Men may also develop infertility from gonorrhea, although it’s rare.

It is possible to treat gonorrhea. The most common treatment is a single dose of the antibiotic ceftriaxone Per the CDC, one injection. “If gonorrhea has spread upwards into the pelvis, hospital admission for IV antibiotics may be required,” Phillips says. And, she notes, it’s a good idea to be tested again two to four weeks after treatment to make sure the treatment worked and that you weren’t reinfected by a partner.

However, Massachusetts health officials identified the issue in January. a new “concerning” strain of gonorrhea It is possible that it has developed resistance to several antibiotics used to treat the STI. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, this indicates that there is some resistance to several antibiotics used for STI treatment. the first time In the U.S., a strain of gonorrhea had a decreased response to five types of antibiotics. After injections with the antibiotic ceftriaxone which is the most widely used treatment, the two cases in the state were finally cured.

It is possible to prevent gonorrhea.

There are many ways to lower your chance of developing gonorrhea. Here are some ways to lower your chances of getting gonorrhea. Mayo Clinic The following is a recommendation:

• If you are having sex, use a condom.

• Limit the number of sex partners you have.

• You and your partner should be tested for sexually transmitted infection.

• Don’t have sex with someone who has symptoms of an STI, including burning during urination or a genital rash or sore.

• For sexually active women aged 25-35 and older women at greater risk of infection, it is worth considering annual gonorrhea testing. The CDC recommends that all men over 13 who have sex regularly with men should be screened each year for gonorrhea.

To reduce your chance of getting reinfected, CDC recommends that you refrain from having sex with someone you’ve had gonorrhea treated.

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