Gonorrhea - Genital infection due to gonococcus

Gonococcal infection, or gonorrhea, is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonhorreae, which can infect both men and women.

The infection is transmitted during unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person. The chance of contracting a gonococcal infection increases if you participate in risky sexual activities (multiple sexual partners, intercourse without a condom, etc.) or if you have had other sexually transmitted infections.

Gonorrhea infects the genital area, and in women it also affects the fallopian tubes and ovaries. It can also affect the throat or rectum in case of oral or anal sex. It usually manifests with discomfort in the genital area and the appearance in women of a whitish-yellowish vaginal discharge. It may be accompanied by fever, painful urination, and vaginal pain. In severe cases, the infection can spread to the reproductive system and infect the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus, the fallopian tubes. This infection is called salpingitis and causes pain in the lower abdomen. There is talk of peritonitis when the infection spreads to the peritoneum that lines the pelvis and abdominal cavity, causing very intense pain in the lower abdomen. In cases of long-standing infection, it can cause sterility, increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain.

Diagnosis is based on history and genital examination. A urinalysis or a sample from the vagina, throat, or rectum may be done to detect the bacteria. They should also be tested for other sexually transmitted infections, as it is not uncommon to have more than one infection at a time. Likewise, gonococcal screening tests must be carried out on all sexual partners of the previous 90 days.

Treatment consists of administering a dose of antibiotic intramuscularly, followed by oral antibiotics for a week.