Gonorrhea
A Sexually Transmitted Disease
How do you contract gonorrhea?
To get gonorrhea you must have vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who currently had the disease. This can be contracted by men and women.
What causes Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This is a bacterium that can easily grow and reproduce in large numbers in mucus. Gonorrhea bacteria likes to grow in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract. These include the cervix, uterus, urethra, and bladder. The bacteria can also possibly form in the mouth and throat.
What problems can gonorrhea cause?
Gonorrhea is also called, "The Clap" or "Drip". The problems that come along with gonorrhea include infected genital, rectum, and throat. More seriously it can cause infertility. Pregnant women with the STD can spread it to the baby.
Is Gonorrhea common?
Gonorrhea is the second most common reported disease in the US. In 2014 over 350,000 cases of Gonorrhea were reported in the US alone. Some studies show that it is more common among men than women but that doesn't mean women cannot contract the STD. Also studies show like the one below conducted in 2014 illustrates that gonorrhea is most common with men and women ages 15-24.
Is Gonorrhea curable?
Gonorrhea does currently have a cure. It can be cured with a antibiotic medication your doctor prescribes to you. Your partner and other sexual partners you may had should be contacted and should be checked out for themselves by a doctor.
How can we as teenagers prevent Gonorrhea?
We as teenagers can do many things to prevent Gonorrhea. The number one way is to not have sexual intercourse with other people. However, if you do, always use condoms correctly every time you have sex. Also limit how many sexual partners you have and be cautious who you sexually interact with.