Gonorrhea

• A burning sensation when urinating
• Increased vaginal or penile discharge
• Vaginal bleeding between periods in women
• Painful or swollen testicles in men
• Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding
• Sore throat (in cases of oral infection)
• Often, no symptoms are present

You should consider getting tested for gonorrhea if you have symptoms, have a sexual partner who has been diagnosed with gonorrhea, or if you’ve had unprotected sex with a new partner. Testing is usually recommended within 2 weeks after potential exposure to ensure accurate results. If the initial test is negative but there’s a strong suspicion of infection, a follow-up test might be recommended.

Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. The current guideline typically involves a single injection of ceftriaxone along with oral azithromycin. It’s crucial to complete the entire course of prescribed antibiotics even if symptoms disappear. Sexual partners should also be treated, and sexual activity should be avoided until the infection is fully cleared to prevent reinfection and spread.