
Gonorrhea Tests Available Same Day
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