what is gonorrhea disease

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea. It can cause infection in the genitals, rectum, and throat. Gonorrhea bacteria can infect the urethra, rectum, female reproductive tract, mouth, throat, or eyes. It is most commonly spread during vaginal, oral, or anal sexual activity, but babies can get the infection during childbirth. Gonorrhea is curable with antibiotics, but if left untreated, it can lead to major complications such as infertility in both men and women, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and long-term pelvic/abdominal pain. Gonorrhea can also cause a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles in men, which can lead to infertility in rare cases. Symptoms of gonorrhea include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when peeing, and in women, bleeding between periods. However, around 1 in 10 infected men and almost half of infected women do not experience any symptoms. Gonorrhea is diagnosed through a sexual health test, and most of the time, a healthcare provider will use a urine sample to diagnose it. However, if you have had oral and/or anal sex, your healthcare provider may use swabs to collect samples from your throat and/or rectum. Gonorrhea is usually treated with a single antibiotic injection, and with effective treatment, most of the symptoms should improve within a few days.