And, conveniently, the azithromycin also works to fight chlamydia infection, which may have been caught at the same time as gonorrhea. The best way to protect yourself against gonorrhea is to use a condom. Get regular screening for STIs and get them more often if you have multiple partners. Last updated August 23, Written by Michael Martin. Disclaimer If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider.
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The clap can also infect one or both eyes causing discharge, conjunctivitis itchy, red eyes , or sensitivity to light. Gonorrhea may also spread or infect the anus causing discharge, bleeding, and rectal pain. Gonorrhea can be diagnosed by several different laboratory tests. Doctors can either use a urine sample to test for the bacteria or a cotton swab from the infected area. The gonorrhea test most often uses a swab from the cervix for women and the urethra for men, but can also include a swab of the anus or other potentially infected areas.
This swab is used for a culture or antigen for testing, both of which can identify if gonorrhea is present. A doctor may also conduct a physical exam to examine symptoms and check for other STDs. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are very similar, so it is important to test for both to ensure you receive the right treatment. Getting tested for an STD can be scary and intimidating but remember, you are taking charge of your health and can get treatment if you are infected.
Many people want to know how you can get rid of the infection. Since gonorrhea is caused by a bacterial infection, gonorrhea treatment is a regimen of oral antibiotics. Each year in the U. Antibiotics typically clear a gonorrhea infection after one to two weeks.
Keep in mind, you should not stop taking the antibiotics prescribed to you until the recommended course of treatment has completely finished. Even if you are relieved of your symptoms, stopping your treatment earlier may allow for the resurgence of bacteria and their development of resistance to the antibiotics. In these instances, the medication will no longer be effective. Additionally, since antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria are already common, if your symptoms continue after a few days of taking antibiotics, consult your doctor.
They may switch you to a different strain of antibiotics. Yes, gonorrhea can be cured by taking the appropriate medication as directed. However, repeat infections of gonorrhea are common. You and your sexual partner s should always be tested in three months of completing antibiotic treatment, especially if you are unsure whether your partner s received treatment.
You and your sexual partner s should not have sex until treatment is complete. You also should wait at least one week after completing a prescribed single dose medication. In some cases, the infection may still be present after the course of antibiotics is complete, so make sure to wait until you and your partner s are certain the disease is no longer present.
Nick wears many hats here at STDcheck, but specifically enjoys writing accurate, well-researched content that is not only informative and relatable but sometimes also contains memes. When not writing, Nick likes to race cars and go-karts, eat Japanese food, and play games on his computer.
Gonorrhea , STDs. Related Articles. By Lauralei Like. Are you wincing in pain yet? It reminds me of another antiquated treatment for a type of skin bump called a ganglion cyst. Back in the 18th century, some people believed that hitting the cyst really hard with a bible! Antibiotic resistance is a real threat — that means if people keep getting infected and taking the same drugs over and over, the bacteria that outlives the medication gets stronger and may eventually become resistant to the treatment.
As officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC warn , 30 percent of new gonorrhea cases every year are already resistant to at least one drug.
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