Gonorrhea In Women (cont.)
What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by the organism Neisseria
gonorrheae that is transmitted by sexual contact. Gonorrhea is one of the
oldest known sexually transmitted diseases. It is estimated that over one
million women are currently infected with gonorrhea. Among women who are
infected, 25%-40% also will be infected with chlamydia, another type of bacteria
that causes another STD.
Contrary to popular belief, gonorrhea cannot be
transmitted from toilet seats or door handles. The bacterium that causes
gonorrhea requires very specific conditions for growth and reproduction. It cannot live outside the body for more than a few seconds or
minutes, nor can it live on the skin of the hands, arms, or legs. It survives
only on moist surfaces within the body and is found most commonly in the
vagina, and, more commonly, the
cervix. (The cervix is the end of the
uterus that protrudes into the vagina.) It can also live in the tube (urethra)
through which urine drains from the
bladder. Gonorrhea can even exist in the back of the throat (from
oral-genital contact) and in the
rectum.
What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
Over 50% of infected women have no symptoms, especially in the early
stages of the infection. Symptoms of gonorrhea include burning or frequent
urination, a yellowish vaginal
discharge, redness and swelling of the genitals, and a burning or itching of
the vaginal area. If untreated, gonorrhea can lead to a severe pelvic infection
with inflammation of the Fallopian tubes and ovaries. Gonorrheal infection of
the Fallopian tubes can lead to a serious, painful infection of the
pelvis known as pelvic
inflammatory disease or PID.
PID occurs in 10%-40% of women with gonorrheal infection of the uterine cervix.
Symptoms of pelvic infection include fever, pelvic cramping,
abdominal pain, or pain
with intercourse. Pelvic infection can lead to difficulty in becoming pregnant
or even sterility.
Occasionally, if the infection is severe enough, a localized area of infection
and pus (an abscess) forms, and major surgery may be necessary and even lifesaving.
Gonorrhea infection in people with conditions causing serious abnormal immune
function, such as AIDS, can also be more serious.
Next: How is gonorrhea diagnosed? »
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