A common sexually transmitted disease, gonorrhoea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. There are a number of different strains of this germ, but antibiotic-resistant ones have become far more common as the number of cases of this disease have risen in the 21st century. As such, the way in which it is treated has had to change – during the late 20th century, the disease rose and became more common as a result of freer and more casual attitudes towards sex. In 2010, the number of cases in UK rose to 18,600 – up by 5,700 for women and 12,900 for men. Of the men, around 30 percent of these were men who had sex with other men. Gonorrhoea generally affects people aged between 15 and 30 years old. This disease is more common in other parts of the world, so casual sex overseas could be a big risk. It’s contracted via sexual contact, such as vaginal or anal intercourse. You can also pass on the disease via oral sex, with some people developing a sore throat due to gonorrhoeal infections – sex workers and other people may have this bacterium in their throats without actually realising. Studies show that mothers who are infected with this germ can actually pass it on to their children during delivery – if they were untreated, infants would develop a severe inflammation in their eyes, which could even develop into blindness. However, it’s common for antibiotic eye drops to be given rapidly to such children to avoid this.
Only around half of the women and a handful of men will ever show symptoms of gonorrhoea. In men, the most common symptom is painful urination. They may also have a white, green or yellow discharge from the top of the penis. In people who practice anal sex, it may be a recurring disease. While anal gonorrhoea is usually symptom-free, some people do experience irritation, pain or discharge from the anus. Women don’t often experience symptoms, but in men painful urination and discharge may occur. In both sexes, a throat infection is common as a result of oral sex with someone who is infected with the disease. This might be connected with a fever, as well. You can avoid developing gonorrhoea by avoiding sex with multiple partners, practicing safe sex by using a condom throughout all sex, and if you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs avoid having sex with anyone – this can lead to you making poor choices with regards to how safe you are. Oral sex can also lead to this problem so it’s important to use a condom here too. Gonorrhoea can be diagnosed by the bacterium found in the urethra, cervix, throat or rectum. When you’re being tested, you will be asked to give a urine sample so don’t urinate for a couple of hours before going to your appointment. You may also have to have a swab so that the doctor can test drops of moisture from these areas, but it is a quick and relatively painless procedure. If you do have gonorrhoea, you will be given the medicines to combat the infection. If it is left untreated, it can lead to an inflammation of the sexual organs or blockages in the fallopian tubes in women, and can lead to an inflammation of the epididymis in men – this is a tightly-coiled tube which is situated by the testicle. It can also cause chordee, which is a painful bending of the penis. A constant practice of safe sex procedures, as well as regular check-ups at your local GUM clinic will ensure that you avoid the risks of STDs or catch them early if you do develop them.
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