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Female reproductive systemThe ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina (vaginal canal) make up the female reproductive system.In many cases, gonorrhea infection causes no symptoms. Symptoms, however, can affect many sites in your body, but commonly appear in the genital tract. Gonorrhea affecting the genital tractSigns and symptoms of gonorrhea infection in men include:. Painful urination. Pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis. Pain or swelling in one testicleSigns and symptoms of gonorrhea infection in women include:. Increased vaginal discharge.
Syphilis: A sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum, a microscopic organism called a spirochete. This worm-like, spiral-shaped organism infects people by burrowing into the moist mucous membranes of the mouth or genitals. From there, the spirochete produces a non-painful ulcer known as a chancre.There are three stages of syphilis.
Painful urination. Vaginal bleeding between periods, such as after vaginal intercourse. Abdominal or pelvic painGonorrhea at other sites in the bodyGonorrhea can also affect these parts of the body:. Rectum. Signs and symptoms include anal itching, pus-like discharge from the rectum, spots of bright red blood on toilet tissue and having to strain during bowel movements.
Eyes. Gonorrhea that affects your eyes can cause eye pain, sensitivity to light, and pus-like discharge from one or both eyes. Throat.
Signs and symptoms of a throat infection might include a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Joints. If one or more joints become infected by bacteria (septic arthritis), the affected joints might be warm, red, swollen and extremely painful, especially during movement.When to see your doctorMake an appointment with your doctor if you notice any troubling signs or symptoms, such as a burning sensation when you urinate or a pus-like discharge from your penis, vagina or rectum.Also make an appointment with your doctor if your partner has been diagnosed with gonorrhea. You may not experience signs or symptoms that prompt you to seek medical attention. But without treatment, you can reinfect your partner even after he or she has been treated for gonorrhea. CausesGonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
The gonorrhea bacteria are most often passed from one person to another during sexual contact, including oral, anal or vaginal intercourse. Risk factorsSexually active women younger than 25 and men who have sex with men are at increased risk of getting gonorrhea.Other factors that can increase your risk include:. Having a new sex partner.
Having a sex partner who has other partners. Having more than one sex partner. Having had gonorrhea or another sexually transmitted infectionComplicationsUntreated gonorrhea can lead to major complications, such as:.
Infertility in women. Gonorrhea can spread into the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can result in scarring of the tubes, greater risk of pregnancy complications and infertility. PID requires immediate treatment.
Infertility in men. Gonorrhea can cause a small, coiled tube in the rear portion of the testicles where the sperm ducts are located (epididymis) to become inflamed (epididymitis).
Untreated epididymitis can lead to infertility. Infection that spreads to the joints and other areas of your body. The bacterium that causes gonorrhea can spread through the bloodstream and infect other parts of your body, including your joints. Fever, rash, skin sores, joint pain, swelling and stiffness are possible results. Increased risk of HIV/AIDS. Having gonorrhea makes you more susceptible to infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that leads to AIDS.
People who have both gonorrhea and HIV are able to pass both diseases more readily to their partners. Complications in babies. Babies who contract gonorrhea from their mothers during birth can develop blindness, sores on the scalp and infections.PreventionTo reduce your gonorrhea risk:. Use a condom if you have sex. Abstaining from sex is the surest way to prevent gonorrhea.
But if you choose to have sex, use a condom during any type of sexual contact, including anal sex, oral sex or vaginal sex. Limit your number of sex partners. Being in a monogamous relationship in which neither partner has sex with anyone else can lower your risk. Be sure you and your partner are tested for sexually transmitted infections. Before you have sex, get tested and share your results with each other. Don't have sex with someone who appears to have a sexually transmitted infection. If your partner has signs or symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, such as burning during urination or a genital rash or sore, don't have sex with that person.Consider regular gonorrhea screening.
Annual screening is recommended for sexually active women younger than 25 and for older women at increased risk of infection. This includes women who have a new sex partner, more than one sex partner, a sex partner with other partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.Regular screening is also recommended for men who have sex with men, as well as their partners.To avoid getting gonorrhea again, abstain from sex until after you and your sex partner have completed treatment and after symptoms are gone. Gonorrhea: CDC fact sheet (detailed version).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Sept.
14, 2019. Ghanem KG. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in adults and adolescents. Accessed Sept. 14, 2019.
Gonorrhea. Office on Women's Health. Accessed Sept. 14, 2019. Gonorrhea. Merck Manual Professional Version.
Accessed Sept. 14, 2019.
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AskMayoExpert. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and nongonococcal urethritis. Mayo Clinic; 2019. Speer ME.
Gonococcal infection in the newborn. Accessed Sept.
Nearly 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases affect people in the United States each year, according to the. With these often come symptoms that affect your entire body – including your mouth. Not all people who are infected will go on to have symptoms. If a person with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) develops symptoms, they are then considered to have a sexually transmitted disease (STD).While not all STDs are curable, they are treatable.
Your dentist is an important part of your healthcare team. Use this guide to learn how these infections can impact your mouth.Please note: This content is for informational purposes only.Only a dentist, physician or other qualified health care professional can makea diagnosis. To learn more about preventing sexually transmitted diseases,visit.HPV: Head and Neck CancersThe human papilloma virus is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, with 14 million new cases each year. According to the, there are more than 40 types of HPV that can be sexually transmitted, but most are cleared from the body by the immune system without causing any health problems.HPV can affect the mouth and throat. Some high-risk strains, particularly HPV-16, are associated with cancers of the head and neck.
Approximately 9,000 cases of HPV-related head and neck cancers are diagnosed each year. The CDC states these cancers are four times more common in men than in women.These cancers typically develop in the throat at the base of the tongue, in the folds of the tonsils or the back of the throat, making them difficult to detect. Although people with HPV-positive cancers have a lower risk of dying or having recurrence than those with HPV-negative cancers, early diagnosis is associated with the best outcomes. Regular dental check-ups that include an examination of the entire head and neck can be vital in detecting cancer early.HPV: Mouth WartsLow-risk strains of HPV may cause warts or lesions in yourmouth or throat. Aside fromtheir appearance, they often have no (or very few) symptoms, are painless and non-cancerous.They can reappear from time to time, and your dentist or physician mayrecommend having them surgically removed.HerpesThere are two strains of the virus that causes herpes.Currently, there is no cure for either strain. Herpes simplex virus type 1 ismost commonly associated with andother mouth lesions.
Herpes simplex virus type 2 is most commonly associatedwith genital lesions. However, both strains are extremely contagious and can bepassed between the genitals and the mouth through saliva and contact with opensores during and right before an outbreak.During an outbreak, you may see blisters in your mouth.Their appearance varies widely. They could be clear, pink, red, yellow or gray.When they pop, you may feel pain when you try to swallow or eat. They generallyheal within 7-10 days, and your dentist can prescribe medicine to reduce thepain.Symptoms of herpes can also include fever and fatigue. Besure to talk to your physician about the best way for you to manage thedisease.
SyphilisSyphilis has been on the rise and reached its highest reported rate in 2016 with 27,814 cases were reported, a 17.6% increase over 2015.During the first stage of infection, may appear assores, known as chancres, on your lips, the tip of your tongue, your gums or atthe back of your mouth near your tonsils. They start as small red patches andgrow into larger, open sores that can be red, yellow or gray in color. These arevery contagious and often painful. Ifuntreated, the sores may go away, but you still have syphilis and can infectothers.Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is actually verytreatable in its early stages. Your dentist can do a biopsy to confirm adiagnosis. If positive, you would be referred to your primary care physicianfor more testing and treatment.
But it is important to be aware that untreatedsyphilis can cause long-term damage to your heart and brain. Gonorrheais a bacterial infection that affects mucous membranes, including those in yourmouth and throat.
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As with syphilis, the number of cases of gonorrhea is also at an all-time high. In 2016, nearly 468,514 cases were reported, an 18.5% increase from 2015.Gonorrhea can be difficult to detect because its symptomsare often very mild and can go unnoticed. The most common symptoms in yourmouth are soreness or burning in your throat. Additional symptoms may include swollenglands and occasionally white spots in your mouth.Untreated gonorrhea can seriously impact your health. Athroat culture swab test can diagnose gonorrhea if you have symptoms in yourmouth. Discuss any concerns about your mouth or throat with your dentist, andsee your physician for further testing and treatment.
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