Gonorrhoeae - Genital infection due to gonococcus

The gonococcal infection or gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the Neisseria gonhorreae bacteria and it can affect both men and women.

The infection is produced during unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person. The probability of getting infected increases when engaging in multiple sexual activities of risk (multiple sexual partners, unprotected intercourse, etc.) or if you previously had another sexually transmitted disease.

Gonorrhea affects the genital area and, in women, the Falopian tubes and ovaries are also affected. The throat and rectum can also be affected through oral or anal sex. Most common manifestations are discomfort in the genital area. In women, the vaginal discharge has a white-yellowish tone. It can be accompanied by fever, mictional itching and vaginal pain. In severe cases, the infection can extend itself to the reproductive system and infect the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus, the fallopian tubes. This infection is known as salpingitis and generated pain in the lower abdominal area. In prolonged evolution infection cases it can cause sterilisation, high risk of ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain.

Diagnosis is based on questioning and genital exploration. A urine culture or vaginal, throat or rectum sample can be done to detect the bacteria. Also, subsequent tests must be done to detect other sexually transmitted diseases, it is not uncommon to have more than one infection at a time. Gonococcal detection tests must be performed to all the sexual partners from the previous 90 days.

Treatment is based on doses of intramuscular antibiotic administration, as well as oral antibiotics for a week.