Gonorrhea

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You may know it as "the clap": gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection that is on the rise, according to Health Canada. A bacterial infection, gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) when it's left untreated.

Gonorrhea causes Gonorrhea is contagious through oral, genital or anal sex; the infection can also be spread from mother to baby during childbirth.

Gonorrhea symptoms Symptoms may include a burning sensation while urinating and a yellowish, or bloody, vaginal discharge and typically appear two to five days after infection but it may take up to 30 days; many infected women have no symptoms.

Gonorrhea diagnosis/tests If you've had unsafe sex and are concerned you may have an STI or you're experiencing gonorrhea symptoms, see your doctor. Testing for gonorrhea involves a urine test or a swab for culture which your doctor will take from the parts of the body likely to be infected, such as the cervix, urethra or throat, and then send it to a lab for analysis.

Gonorrhea treatment The infection can be cured with antibiotics; however, some strains of gonorrhea are growing resistant to antibiotic treatment. Many people with gonorrhea also have chlamydia, another sexually transmitted infection.

Gonorrhea prevention Abstinence is the best way to prevent STIs including gonorrhea. Using condoms may also guard against the infection. Early treatment will help prevent complications.

Outside resources
Sexualityandu.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada