Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (urine canal) in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.
Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus. Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted or acquired. Gonorrhea can also be spread from mother to baby during delivery.
People who have had gonorrhea and received treatment may get infected again if they have sexual contact with a person infected with gonorrhea.
Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are among sexually active teenagers, young adults.
Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, some men have signs or symptoms that appear one to fourteen days after infection. Symptoms and signs include a burning sensation when urinating, or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes men with gonorrhea get painful or swollen testicles.
In women, the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild, but most women who are infected have no symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they can be so non-specific as to be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. The initial symptoms and signs in women include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms.
Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Rectal infection also may cause no symptoms. Infections in the throat may cause a sore throat, but usually causes no symptoms.
If a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, she may give the infection to her baby as the baby passes through the birth canal during delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby. Treatment of gonorrhea as soon as it is detected in pregnant women will reduce the risk of these complications. Pregnant women should consult a health care provider for appropriate examination, testing, and treatment, as necessary.
We all want to protect ourselves and each other from infections like gonorrhea. Learning more about gonorrhea is an important first step.
Gonorrhea at a Glance :
>> A common sexually transmitted disease (STD)
>> Often has no symptoms
>> Easily treated
>> Easily spread with or without symptoms
>> Condoms offer good protection
Want to get tested for gonorrhea?
The Home Bio Gonorrhea test is an easy to use, accurate and reliable assay that will detect antibodies to the bacteria that cause gonorrhea present on swab samples collected from the cervix or the urethra.
The test is easy to use and the result is available within minutes – in the privacy of your own home.
Accurate and Specific
Our test kits are the same as those used by doctors and other healthcare professionals to screen for infection with gonorrhea. The test is specific for Neisseria gonorrhea bacteria and has an accuracy of greater than 99.8%.
Performing the test
Using the swab provided, a sample is taken from the cervix (women) or urethra (men) and transferred to the extraction solution. A second solution is added and then the test strip is briefly into the solution and removed. The easy to read result will develop after ten minutes and you will learn if you have a gonorrhea infection or not.
The test comes with an easy to understand instruction sheet.
