Author: / Sophie Winkel /

Gonorrhea 101

Gonorrhea — also referred to as “the clap” or the “drip,” is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can affect the genitals, rectum, or throat. 

Gonorrhea is a very common STI.

 

Symptoms

Like many other STIs, gonorrhea is often asymptomatic — meaning that there are no obvious symptoms. However, when symptoms do occur, they differ depending on the genitalia of the person.

For someone with a penis, symptoms of gonorrhea may include…

  • Burning sensation when urinating
  • Yellow or green discharge
  • Painful and swollen testicles

 

Symptoms of anal gonorrhea include…

  • Discharge
  • Itching
  • Bleeding
  • Soreness
  • Pain during bowel movements

 

Symptoms that may present for a woman or an individual with a vagina include…

  • Painful or burning sensation while urinating
  • Increased discharge and bleeding in between periods

 

Oral gonorrhea, or gonorrhea of the throat, may be accompanied by persistent itchy or sore throat and/or trouble swallowing.

 

Transmission

Gonorrhea is transmitted through sexual fluids (semen, pre-cum, vaginal fluids), and therefore acts such as vaginal, anal, and oral sex carry a high risk of transmission. Contrary to certain myths, gonorrhea CANNOT be spread through casual contact such as sharing food/drinks, hugging, holding hands, or sitting on toilet seats.

According to the CDC, there are certain groups of people who are at a higher risk of contracting gonorrhea compared to the general population. These groups are…

  • women who under 25
  • older women with certain risk factors such as multiple sex partners or a partner with and STI
  • sexually active men who have sex with other men

The CDC recommends testing at least once a year for people within any of these groups.

Gonorrhea can also be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth. If a baby is infected from their mother during birth, they can develop blindness, sores, and infections. The Cleveland Clinic has a comprehensive guide to STIs during pregnancy, you can read it here.  

 

Prevention

The only way to totally prevent all STIs is to practice abstinence, but there are ways to practice safe sex that lower the risk of transmission.

  • Condoms/Dental Dams

Using a condom and/or dental dam during vaginal, anal, and oral sex reduces the risk of transmission by limiting the contact with sexual fluids. Check out the CDC’s guidelines on how to use a condom and a dental dam here.

  • Regular STI Screening

If you are sexually active, it’s important to get tested regularly for any sexually transmitted diseases or infections. Screening does not necessarily prevent you from contracting a disease, but it can prevent any further transmission and empowers you to begin treatment before the disease becomes more serious. If you are in a relationship, consider discussing this with your partner.

If you have never been tested for STIs, the American Sexual Health Association has a basic description of what each test entails, which you can read here.

 

Diagnosis + Treatment

The only way to know whether you have gonorrhea or not is to get tested.

The most common method of diagnosis for genital gonorrhea is an urine test. For anal and oral gonorrhea, healthcare providers can use a swab to collect samples that can test for the presence of the bacteria. Because gonorrhea has similar symptoms to other STIs, your medical provider may administer a few different tests — just to be sure. Being honest and open with your healthcare provider about your sexual activity can ensure that you get the best possible care.

Because gonorrhea is a bacterial infection, treatment is fairly simple. Antibiotics are the most common form of treatment, and the strength of the strain of bacteria determines how many antibiotics will be needed and for how long. It is crucial that the antibiotics be taken as directed. Cutting treatment short can result in the bacteria returning.

If you test positive for gonorrhea, your partner(s) may want to be tested, as well, to avoid passing the infection back and forth. Planned Parenthood recommends that once you are diagnosed and begin treatment, you refrain from having sex for 7 days. If you feel scared or uncomfortable talking to your partner about STI testing, read this guide from Planned Parenthood for tips and advice.

Once you treat gonorrhea, you are not immune and can get infected again. Getting in the habit of practicing safe sex and integrating a full STI screening into your regular check-ups can help prevent the return of any sexually transmitted infections. For tips on practicing safe sex, read Planned Parenthood’s guide here.  

Though gonorrhea itself is not a serious threat to your health, leaving it untreated can lead to more serious complications. If you suspect you’ve been exposed to gonorrhea, get tested as soon as possible. 

 

Lastly…

Gonorrhea is a very common sexually transmitted infection that poses no major threat to your health — unless it’s left untreated.

The infection is often asymptomatic, so it is the responsibility of any sexually active person to make sure they are getting tested regularly to avoid any dangerous complications and further transmission. Starting an honest and open dialogue with your partner(s) and your physician about sexual health and the risks of STIs can ensure that you are living a happy and healthy life.

Have fun and play safe!

 

 

Herpes 101

Herpes is a disease that can be caused by one of two kinds of the Herpes virus. Either virus can cause sores and blisters in the genital area, anus, mouth, and throat. Herpes simplex virus type one (HSV-1) is most commonly responsible for oral herpes. Herpes simplex virus type two (HSV-2) is typically what causes genital herpes. Although each virus has its infectious preference, both can infect either area.

Herpes is a fairly common virus. According to the CDC, oral herpes in some form is found in over half of Americans, and genital herpes is found in roughly one out of every six people between the ages of 14 and 49 in the United States. It is estimated that 776,000 people acquire new herpes infections every year in the United States alone. 

 

Symptoms

Most people that have herpes do not have any symptoms, and if they do, they are often so mild that they are mistaken for pimples or ingrown hairs. Because of this, herpes often goes unnoticed, undiagnosed, and untreated. If symptoms are present, they can vary slightly depending on the area affected as well as the strain of virus causing them.

Oral herpes tends to be the milder version of the two, causing…

  •  Sores on the lips, around the mouth, and/or even inside the mouth. These sores, sometimes referred to as cold sores or fever blisters, usually go away on their own, but can return at any time thereafter.

Genital herpes can cause…

  • A cluster of blisters on any of the areas near the genitals, including the vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, butt, anus, and inner thighs. When these blisters break they become sores, and can be itchy and painful.
  • If HSV-2 infects the genitals, it can also come with flu-like symptoms such as swollen glands, fever, chills, headache, and fatigue.
  • The first genital herpes outbreak is most commonly the worst, and starts anywhere between 2-20 days after contracting the virus.
  • This first outbreak can last anywhere from two to four weeks.
  • After the initial outbreak, any subsequent flare-ups tend to decrease in severity over time. With that being said, there have been cases where the initial outbreak doesn’t happen for years, so a lack of outbreaks is not a reliable indicator that one is herpes-free.

 

Transmission 

The herpes virus is spread through physical contact with someone who has the virus. Someone with the oral herpes infection can spread the virus through their sores, saliva, and skin around the mouth. Many people who have oral herpes contracted it from non-sexual contact with saliva at some point during their childhood.

If someone has genital herpes, their sores, skin around their genitals, and genital secretions can spread the virus. The virus is most commonly spread through sexual acts such as vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex, and kissing—but it can also be spread through non-sexual acts. Mothers with the virus can pass it on to their child during childbirth, and someone can pass it on after touching an open blister and then coming into contact with someone else’s mouth, eyes, or genital area. Additionally, if someone touches an open herpes sore, the liquid from the sore can carry the virus to another area of the body, such as the eyes. One way to avoid that is to refrain from touching any sores and thoroughly washing your hands if you do.

A lack of sores does not mean that one is temporarily not “contagious.”

There are some common myths about how herpes is transmitted. It cannot be transmitted through…

  • hugging
  • holding hands
  • sneezing or coughing
  • sitting on a toilet seat—the virus dies too quickly when it is outside of the body to make these types of transmissions possible.

 

Prevention

The tricky thing about this virus is that it often goes undetected. Because people can be asymptomatic, many are unaware that they are infected and can unknowingly spread the virus to others. The only way to completely protect yourself from herpes is to abstain from sex, but if you choose to be sexually active, there are a few ways to have safer sex that can help you protect yourself and lessen the chances of contracting the virus.

  • Using protection such as condoms or dental dams lowers the risk of transmission, but does not eliminate it completely. Even with perfect use, condoms leave areas where herpes can live unprotected (scrotum, butt cheeks, upper thighs, labia). Check out the CDC’s guidelines for putting on condoms to make sure you’re using them correctly.
  • If you or your partner are having an outbreak, try to avoid having sex until it’s over. The virus is most easily spread when sores are present.

 

Diagnosis

Herpes is often asymptomatic or its symptoms are mistaken for other skin conditions, which leads many people who have the disease to be completely unaware of it. Any sores or blisters near the mouth, genitals, or anus, should be brought to the attention of a medical provider who can determine whether they are caused by herpes.

If you have no visible symptoms, they can administer a blood test to see if there are any herpes antibodies present in your blood. STD tests are usually left out of routine check-ups, but you can bring it up the subject of sexual health with your doctor so they can assess your risks and administer the tests most suited for you.

If you feel uncomfortable talking to your doctor or nurse about your sexual activity, you always have the option to find a different provider you feel more comfortable with. Remember that sexual health is an integral part of your overall health, and medical professionals are there to ensure that you are living your best and healthiest life.

 

Treatment

The bottom line is that herpes cannot be cured, but there are many different treatments available that can help suppress and control outbreaks and reduce the chances of transmitting the disease to someone else.

  • Antiviral medications can be used both topically and orally to help minimize the symptoms of herpes. Creams and ointments can reduce any burning, itching, or unpleasant sensations that come with an outbreak, and pills or shots are available that can shorten the duration of future outbreaks.
  • When taken on a daily basis, antiviral medications such as Acyclovir, Famciclovir, and Valacyclovir reduce the frequency of outbreaks, and in turn reduce the risk of transmission. These medications all require a prescription from a doctor.
  • Some natural ways to reduce any pain caused by sores include warm baths, wearing soft, loose, and breathable clothes, applying an ice pack to the sores, and keeping the area around the sores dry can all reduce any irritation and speed up the healing process.
  • There are no known triggers for herpes outbreaks, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle with exercise, a balanced diet, sleep, and stress management can help your body fight off outbreaks.

       

Herpes is common. Once you have it, you have it forever, but it doesn’t have to stop you from having a healthy sex life. By taking certain precautions and having open communication with a physician and any partner(s), people with herpes can lead perfectly happy and healthy lives.