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What is Gonorrhea? Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. This bacterium grows and multiplies easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and in the urethra in both women and men. Gonorrhea is a very common infectious disease. The CDC estimates that more than 800,000 persons in the United States get new Gonorrhea infection each year. What are Symptoms? If symptoms occur, they usually appear two to five days after infection, but can take as long as 30 days to appear. Most women who are infected with gonorrhea have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse and/or vaginal bleeding between periods. Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. If a man does have symptoms, they may include a burning sensation when urinating, or a white or yellow discharge from the penis. Rarely, men with gonorrhea get painful or swollen testicles. Complications of Untreated Infection In women, untreated Gonorrhea infection is a common cause of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). The symptoms may be quite mild or can be very severe and can include abdominal pain and fever. PID can damage the fallopian tubes enough to cause infertility or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy (a life-threatening condition in which a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus). In pregnant women, the infection may be given to the baby when passing through the birth canal during delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby. In men, gonorrhea can cause Epididymitis, a painful condition of the ducts attached to the testicles that can lead to infertility. In addition, both men and women with gonorrhea can more easily contract HIV if exposed. Testing The Gonorrhea Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) test is a simple urine test used to detect the bacterium. First morning urine is recommended for this test, but the specimen is acceptable if the patient has not urinated for at least 1½ to 2 hours before it is collected.
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