Gonorrhea
Nearly 600,000 cases of gonorrhea are reported to the CDC every year. Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that is curable and treatable with antibiotics however, damage prior to treatment cannot be undone. Transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex gonorrhea may have many severe implications.
Symptoms:
A small number of cases may be asymptomatic, but when symptoms appear, they are often mild and appear within 2-20 days after exposure. Symptoms include:
- Thick, yellow discharge from penis or vagina
- Discharge from or bleeding in rectum
- Pain and burning with urination
Consequences & Effects:
If left untreated in women it may cause pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. For men, gonorrhea (left untreated) can result in scarring of the reproductive tract which causes sterility. Untreated gonorrhea can infect the joints, heart valves and/or brain.