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Common STIs/RHIs

 

Gonorrhea

Basic facts:

  • Gonorrhea is an STI transmitted during anal, oral, or vaginal sex.
  • Many men and women who have this infection have no symptoms, but they can still pass the infection to others.

Symptoms:

In men:
  • Urethral discharge
  • Swollen and/or painful testicles
In women:
  • Unusual vaginal discharge
  • Lower abdominal pain (pain below the belly button; pelvic pain)
  • Abnormal and/or heavy vaginal bleeding
  • Vaginal bleeding after intercourse
In men or women:
  • Burning or pain during urination

Complications: If left untreated...

  • In women, gonorrhea can spread to the uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can make it difficult for her to become pregnant, cause infertility, or increase her risk of ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus).
  • In pregnant women, gonorrhea can cause early labor and delivery and can be passed to the baby, causing serious infections.
  • In men, gonorrhea can cause pain and swelling in the testicles, leading to infertility.
  • Gonorrhea can get into the bloodstream, leading to an infection throughout the body, often causing pain and swelling in the joints.

Prevention of transmission to others and repeat infections:

  • An infected client should inform all sexual partners he or she has had in the last month about the infection (if possible) and encourage them to come to the clinic for more information and treatment—even if a partner does not have any symptoms—to avoid reinfection. Remind clients that if a sexual partner does not get treated, the client can get the infection again.
  • An infected client should avoid sex (1) until treatment is completed (for seven days if one-dose therapy is used) to make sure he or she does not pass the infection to others, and (2) until after any partner completes treatment (or for seven days if one-dose therapy is used) so he or she does not get infected again. If abstinence is not possible, the client should use a male or female condom during anal, oral, or vaginal sex.

 

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