Premium Nahrungsergänzungsmittel | artgerecht

Gonorrhoea – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It affects mucous membranes and is one of the most common STIs worldwide.

Regular tips about health Regular tips about health

Things worth knowing about "Gonorrhoea"

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It affects mucous membranes and is one of the most common STIs worldwide.

What is Gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea (also spelled gonorrhea) is a bacterial infectious disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is one of the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs) globally and primarily affects the mucous membranes of the urinary tract, genitals, rectum, throat, and eyes.

Causes and Transmission

Gonorrhoea is transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It can also be passed from mother to newborn during childbirth, potentially causing a serious eye infection known as ophthalmia neonatorum.

Unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex
Sharing sex toys without protection
Mother-to-child transmission during birth

People with multiple sexual partners, those who do not consistently use condoms, or those who already have another STI are at higher risk of infection.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the site of infection and the sex of the individual. A significant proportion of infections – particularly in women – may be asymptomatic initially.

Symptoms in Men

Purulent (pus-like) discharge from the penis
Burning sensation or pain during urination
Redness and swelling at the urethral opening

Symptoms in Women

Changed or purulent vaginal discharge
Burning or pain during urination
Pelvic or lower abdominal pain (if the infection spreads)
Irregular vaginal bleeding

Symptoms at Other Sites

Rectal gonorrhoea: discharge, itching, pain during bowel movements
Pharyngeal gonorrhoea (throat): usually asymptomatic, occasionally sore throat
Conjunctival gonorrhoea (eyes): redness, swelling, purulent discharge

Complications

If left untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to serious health complications:

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries – can lead to infertility
Epididymitis: inflammation of the epididymis in men, also carrying a risk of infertility
Disseminated Gonococcal Infection (DGI): spread of bacteria into the bloodstream, causing joint pain, skin rash, and in rare cases, endocarditis
Increased susceptibility to HIV infection

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is typically made through laboratory testing:

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT): a highly sensitive molecular test performed on swabs or urine – the current gold standard
Culture: growing the bacteria from a swab sample, important for antibiotic resistance testing
Microscopy: Gram staining of a swab – useful in symptomatic men, less sensitive in women

Swabs can be taken from the urethra, cervix, rectum, throat, or eye depending on the sites at risk.

Treatment

Gonorrhoea is treated with antibiotics. Due to increasing antibiotic resistance, international guidelines currently recommend combination therapy:

Ceftriaxone (intramuscular injection) as the first-line treatment
Combined with azithromycin or doxycycline if co-infection with chlamydia is suspected or confirmed

A test of cure should be performed after treatment to confirm successful eradication. All sexual partners from the past 60 days should be notified, tested, and treated accordingly.

Prevention

Consistent use of condoms during sexual activity
Regular STI testing for individuals with multiple sexual partners
Open communication with sexual partners about STI status
Neonatal eye prophylaxis at birth (Crede prophylaxis)

References

World Health Organization (WHO): Gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection). WHO Fact Sheet, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/gonorrhoea-(neisseria-gonorrhoeae-infection)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Gonorrhea – CDC Detailed Fact Sheet. 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/stdfact-gonorrhea-detailed.htm
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): Gonorrhoea – Annual Epidemiological Report. ECDC, 2022.

Building Blocks for a Healthy Life

As an integrated manufacturer, we develop & produce evidence-based, patented, and non-patented formulations. We work exclusively with plant and natural extracts according to the strictest purity & quality standards.
The combination of science & modern technology with the laws of nature creates solutions consistently tailored to humans – for the highest good: health.

Most read entries

3 Posts in this encyclopedia category