Gonorrhea: Diagnosis, Testing, and TreatmentGonorrhea, also known as "The Clap," is a sexually transmitted disease that affects about

800,000 people a year in t he United States. It can be contracted by both men and women, however men are fo ur times more likely to exhibit symptoms of the disease. It is important to get tested if you think that you may have gonorrhea or if you are exhibiting any sym ptoms of gonorrhea, as prolonged infection can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in women, and epididymitis in men. Gonorrhea is easily treatable with ant ibiotics. Diagnosis and Testing If you think that may have gonorrhea, or have gonorrhea symptoms, visit with you r doctor. Simple tests are available to confirm an infection. The sooner you beg in gonorrhea treatments, the better. While gonorrhea treatment is 95% to 99% eff ective, it cannot reverse any damage already done to your reproductive organs. Ads by Google Suffering from Low Testo? Take This Free Quiz and Find Out! By Australia's Leading Authority www.IMH.com.a u Menopause symptoms? New clinical study open for menopausal women in Sydney. newmenopauseresearch.com Ask a Doctor: HPV 17 Doctors Are Online. Current Wait Time: 7 Minutes. Health.JustAnswer.com Recovery IS possible We are here to help you overcome your eating issues www.bodymatters.com.au Related Articles Contracting STDs Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Chlamydia Chlamydia Symptoms Treating Chlamydia Gonorrhea Gonorrhea Symptoms Gonorrhea Treatment Preventing Gonorrhea Preventing Chlamydia HPV and Hepatitis B HIV/AIDS Other Types of STDs Your doctor will begin the exam by taking your medical history and asking you f or information about your symptoms. It is important to be as clear as possible a bout any symptoms you may be having, so your doctor can estimate how long you ha ve been infected. Your doctor will then conduct a physical exam during which tim

e he will look for any signs of infection, including fever, inflammation of the vagina or penis, and discharge from the vagina or penis. If you are a woman, your doctor will also check you for any tenderness in the lo wer abdomen that could indicate an infection. Your doctor will also take a sampl e of any discharge that is apparent. In women, samples may be taken from the cer vix, anus, or throat. In men, a sample of discharge may be taken from the penis, anus, or throat. This sample will be sent off for culture testing of the bacter ia that cause gonorrhea. The sample of discharge taken from you will be placed in d to grow (or culture) for two days. If any bacteria are iply and be easily identifiable under a microscope. Some ccess to a urine test for gonorrhea. A urine sample will dicate an infection. This test is not as reliable as the help to rule out the infection. plastic dish and allowe present, they will mult doctors may also have a be collected and can in culture test, but will

Treatment If you test positive for gonorrhea, don't worry; the disease is easily treatable . You will likely be offered an antibiotic, either in pill form or by injection. A single dose is usually all that is required, but some antibiotics require lon ger courses. Common antibiotics for gonorrhea include: Ofloxacin, Cefixine, and Ceftriaxine. If you are pregnant and have gonorrhea, or if you are under the age of 18, it is important to tell your doctor. Certain antibiotics shouldn't be used by pregnan t women or by people under 18. It is important to take all of the medication that is prescribed to you, even if you aren't experiencing any symptoms. You must also abstain from sex until you have tested negative for the disease. If you have tested positive for gonorrhea, any and all sexual partners you have had should also be tested in order to prev ent spreading the infection as well as to avoid future complications. Complications If left untreated, gonorrhea can cause many problems in both women and men. Untr eated gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women. PID has been s hown to cause scarring on the reproductive organs, which can cause infertility, as well as increase a woman's risk of ectopic pregnancy, a potentially life thre atening problem. Gonorrhea can also cause infertility in men if it the STD is no t treated. It is also possible for gonorrhea to spread to other parts of the body. It has b een known to infect the heart valves and the brain as well as cause joint inflam mation. Follow Up After you have finished your medications, wait three days before returning to yo ur doctor to get tested. You should also get tested for HIV and Chlamydia, becau se many of those infected with gonorrhea are also susceptible to these diseases. If for any reason your symptoms do not clear up, return to your doctor for furt her advice.