Gonorrhea
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Also
called the "clap" or "drip,"
gonorrhea is a contagious disease transmitted most
often through sexual contact with an infected person.
Gonorrhea may also be spread by contact with infected
bodily fluids, so that a mother could pass on the
infection to her newborn during childbirth. Both
men and women can get gonorrhea. The infection is
easily spread and occurs most often in people who
have many sex partners.
What
Causes Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a
bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in mucus
membranes of the body. Gonorrhea bacteria can grow
in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract,
including the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes
in women, and in the urethra in women and men. The
bacteria can also grow in the mouth, throat, and
anus.
How
Common Is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a very common infectious disease. In
the U.S. each year, about 700,000 people are infected
with gonorrhea.
What
Are The Symptoms of Gonorrhea?
Not all people infected with gonorrhea have symptoms,
so knowing when to seek treatment can be tricky.
When symptoms do occur, they are often within 2-10
days after exposure, but can take up to 30 days
and include the following:
Symptoms
in Women