Wednesday, April 6, 2011
You would know if you have gonorrhea, right? It's that disease with undesirable symptoms like painful urination. Well, hold on a minute. Did you know that gonorrhea can show absolutely no symptoms in some. A person might think they are in the clear; when actually, they are not. Gonorrhea, when left untreated, can be life-threatening. Another, more heartbreaking side effect of untreated gonorrhea is infertility.
Males, in particular, are known to exhibit no symptoms after contracting gonorrhea. Medical professionals think that about 20 per cent of men with gonorrhea have absolutely no symptoms. This is why you should always have STD testing routinely if you are sexually active. You need to be able to rule out an infection.
Gonorrhea can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. However, it is also possible for the bacterium that causes gonorrhea to live in the eyes, the throat, or the nose. The disease can be transmitted from one area of the body to another by simply touching any of these places. The most obvious symptoms in men a yellow/green, pus-like discharge and pain with urination. However, blood can also be present in the urine. The tip of the penis may also appear swollen, red, and feverish.
In women, gonorrhea symptoms, if present, can include a vaginal discharge that is yellow, or green and have an undesirable odor. It often hurts to urinate. Pelvic pain can also be a symptom. Untreated gonorrhea in women can scar the uterus and fallopian tubes and end up in sterility. People who do not treat their gonorrhea risk becoming susceptible to HIV.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea seem to go hand in hand. The U.S. has over 600,000 new gonorrhea cases every year. Fortunately, both diseases are easily cured and damage is minimal when found early. The longer you wait, the more detrimental the outcome.
So, if you have had unprotected sex, you really should take the time to get a routine STD test. Since some people exhibit no symptoms when infected, you should get complete STD screening at least two times yearly to avoid any long-term issues from leaving an STD untreated.
Males, in particular, are known to exhibit no symptoms after contracting gonorrhea. Medical professionals think that about 20 per cent of men with gonorrhea have absolutely no symptoms. This is why you should always have STD testing routinely if you are sexually active. You need to be able to rule out an infection.
Gonorrhea can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. However, it is also possible for the bacterium that causes gonorrhea to live in the eyes, the throat, or the nose. The disease can be transmitted from one area of the body to another by simply touching any of these places. The most obvious symptoms in men a yellow/green, pus-like discharge and pain with urination. However, blood can also be present in the urine. The tip of the penis may also appear swollen, red, and feverish.
In women, gonorrhea symptoms, if present, can include a vaginal discharge that is yellow, or green and have an undesirable odor. It often hurts to urinate. Pelvic pain can also be a symptom. Untreated gonorrhea in women can scar the uterus and fallopian tubes and end up in sterility. People who do not treat their gonorrhea risk becoming susceptible to HIV.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea seem to go hand in hand. The U.S. has over 600,000 new gonorrhea cases every year. Fortunately, both diseases are easily cured and damage is minimal when found early. The longer you wait, the more detrimental the outcome.
So, if you have had unprotected sex, you really should take the time to get a routine STD test. Since some people exhibit no symptoms when infected, you should get complete STD screening at least two times yearly to avoid any long-term issues from leaving an STD untreated.
About the Author:
STD testing can detect gonorrhea with an easy lab test. Find a std testing center conveniently located near you.