Gonorrhea is a relatively common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The culprit of this infection is Neisseria Gonorrheae, a type of bacteria that thrives in moist, warm environments (Gonorrhea). It is this quality of N.Gonorrheae that makes the reproductive tract prime real estate for infection. Health care professionals working with sexually active people need to be especially thorough in their exams and education to ensure that Gonorrhea does not spread. As the phrase “sexually transmitted infection” implies, Gonorrhea is a communicable infection. This means that any type of direct sexual contact with an infected person can transmit the infection. “You can get Gonorrhea during vaginal, oral, or anal sex with an infected
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According to the National Library of Medicine, women may have symptoms of vaginal discharge, pain during sex and urination, as well as a sore throat. Men typically experience pain and burning while urinating, discharge from the penis, and a swollen urethra (Gonorrhea). Symptoms of Gonorrhea are similar to multiple other diagnoses so it can be challenging for the patient to realize they might have Gonorrhea. Once there is an onset of symptoms, the patient should make an appointment with their OBGYN or PCP to obtain a lab test. Treatment is simple; a round of antibiotics would be prescribed. It is essential that the entire round of antibiotics be completed so the infection is completely terminated. The partner of the patient is most likely also infected, so this individual should seek treatment as well. The incidences of Gonorrhea have decreased drastically in the last decade according to the CDC (2013 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance Gonorrhea), but health care providers are seeing many more drug-resistant strains. It is evident that the US is having forward progress with Gonorrheal outbreaks, but the N.Gonorrheae can adapt to survive multiple antibiotics. This is why health care providers need to focus on prevention education more than
According to the National Library of Medicine, women may have symptoms of vaginal discharge, pain during sex and urination, as well as a sore throat. Men typically experience pain and burning while urinating, discharge from the penis, and a swollen urethra (Gonorrhea). Symptoms of Gonorrhea are similar to multiple other diagnoses so it can be challenging for the patient to realize they might have Gonorrhea. Once there is an onset of symptoms, the patient should make an appointment with their OBGYN or PCP to obtain a lab test. Treatment is simple; a round of antibiotics would be prescribed. It is essential that the entire round of antibiotics be completed so the infection is completely terminated. The partner of the patient is most likely also infected, so this individual should seek treatment as well. The incidences of Gonorrhea have decreased drastically in the last decade according to the CDC (2013 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance Gonorrhea), but health care providers are seeing many more drug-resistant strains. It is evident that the US is having forward progress with Gonorrheal outbreaks, but the N.Gonorrheae can adapt to survive multiple antibiotics. This is why health care providers need to focus on prevention education more than