Gonorrhea Gonorrhea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection that has been on the rise in Canada. While not as common as chlamydia, gonorrhea affects many people and the bacteria are even becoming resistant to some kinds of antibiotics. Gonorrhea is still treatable but the longer a person has it, the higher the likelihood that serious complications will occur. Am I at risk for getting Gonorrhea? Gonorrhea can be passed from one sex partner to another through the following ways: • Performing oral sex on your partner’s vulva, penis or anus • Receiving oral sex from your partner • Having vaginal sex • Having anal sex • Occasionally through deep kissing, although this is not common *Gonorrhea cannot be passed through casual contact or through dry kissing, hugging, massage or through objects such as toilet seats. How can I avoid getting Gonorrhea? If you are sexually active and engaging in any of the listed risk activities, you are at risk for contracting gonorrhea; however, there are ways to reduce the risk. You can……. • Talk about safer sex with your sex partners • Use a condom every time you have anal or vaginal sex • Use a condom every time you perform oral sex on your partner’s penis • Use a dental dam (made out of a condom or purchased separately) every time you perform oral sex on your partner’s vulva or anus • Get tested every 3-6 months so that if you do contract gonorrhea, you and your partner can be treated before any complications occur How do I know if I have Gonorrhea? You cannot know for sure whether or not you have gonorrhea unless you get tested for it. Approximately 50% of infected women and 50% of infected men have no detectable symptoms. People can have gonorrhea for several months or years and not experience any symptoms but still be passing it on to other people. Gonorrhea will not go away on its own without treatment. Symptoms can also come and go, leading people to believe that they are cured. For people who do get symptoms they may experience one or more of the following: Men: • Greenish, yellowy discharge from the penis that comes out in a constant drip • Burning during urination • Pain or swelling in the testicles • Itching of the penis • Pain when having bowel movements • Rectal discharge, bleeding or itching Women: • New or unusual discharge from the vagina that may be whitish yellow in colour • Pain or bleeding during or after sex • Bleeding between periods (keep in mind this is also a common side effect of hormonal birth control) • Pain or itching in the vagina or rectum • Pain during urination How can I get a test for Gonorrhea? You can get tested for gonorrhea at your doctor’s office, walk-in clinic or sexual health centre. Keep in mind that when you have your annual pap test (swab of the cervix to check for abnormal cells) you may not be tested for gonorrhea unless you specifically request it. There are sexual health clinics located throughout Canada. The Canadian Federation for Sexual Health has several members that provide both testing and treatment. The services provided are confidential and youth friendly. To find a member close to you: http://cfsh.ca/ppfc/find.asp How is the test for Gonorrhea done? Testing differs for men and women: For men: • A urine test is most often used. Because men ejaculate and urinate out of the same opening, the urine will have remnants of the STI in it that can be detected. • A swab of the infected area may be taken, if discharge is present. For women: • A swab of the vagina is taken and sent to a lab for testing. • If a woman is very uncomfortable with this testing method a urine test may be used. Urine tests for women are not nearly as accurate because urine and discharge come out of separate openings. How is Gonorrhea Treated? Gonorrhea can usually be treated with a single dosage of antibiotics. This requires a prescription from a doctor. Both you and your sexual partners need to be treated and abstain from having sex until the treatment is finished and the doctor says it is okay to resume sexual activity. Some people could be resistant to certain kinds of antibiotics. Your partners from within the last 3 months need to be informed so that they can be treated as well. If you are uncomfortable or anxious about telling your partners a public health nurse can notify them for you. They will not use your name. What Happens if I get Gonorrhea and don’t get treated? If gonorrhea is not treated, it can lead to serious complications. Gonorrhea will not go away on its own without treatment. For Women: • If left untreated, you can get an infection called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) which affects your reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes) and can cause infertility. • You are at increased risk for an ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that forms inside your fallopian tubes and is extremely painful and dangerous). • If you are pregnant, you can pass gonorrhea on to your baby during delivery, which can cause serious eye infections to occur and sometimes blindness. For Men: • If left untreated, gonorrhea can cause an infection in the prostate gland, or an inflammation inside the testicles • Infertility (inability to get a woman pregnant) *If left untreated, gonorrhea can also cause problems for both men and women by infecting the joints, skin, heart and brain, causing permanent damage to the body.