Gonorrhea
Also know as the clap is a very common and highly contagious sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Signs/Symptoms
Not all people infected with gonorrhea have signs or symptoms. When they do occur they typically develop 2-10 days after exposure but can take up to 30 days. Signs/Symptoms may include:
Women
Men
Diagnosis/Treatment
Diagnosis of gonorrhea is done by collecting a swab sample of fluid from the cervix in women and the urethra in me as well as throat or anal culture or urine sample. Gonorrhea is a curable disease and can be treated with oral or injectable antibiotics.
Effects of Gonorrhea and Prevention
If gonorrhea is left untreated it can cause serious problems that will cause major life changes for both women and men. If left untreated in women gonorrhea can progress to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which will cause infertility in women. Women can also suffer from etopic or tubal pregnancy. If left untreated in men they can develop epididymitis, which is a painful infection of the scrotum and can lead to infertility.
Ways to prevent yourself from becoming infected with gonorrhea are use condoms, limit the number of sex partners, limit sexual contact to one uninfected partner. The number one way to prevent gonorrhea is by practicing sexual abstinence.
Syphilis
Is a rare yet highly contagious disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum and is spread primarily by sexual activity including oral and anal sex.
Signs/Symptoms
Even though the disease is spread from sores, the majority of the sores go unnoticed by the infected person and they unknowingly pass it on to their sexual partner. Signs or symptoms of syphilis may not show for years, some of the signs or symptoms may include:
Diagnosis/Treatment
Syphilis can be easily diagnosed with a blood test and is curable with prompt diagnosis and treatment. Treatment for syphilis depends on how long you have been infected, less than 1 year a single dose of penicillin will destroy the infection. If you are in the later stage of the disease more than one dose may be needed.
Effects of Syphilis and Prevention
If syphilis is left untreated or treated to late it can cause serious and permanent damage to the heart and brain and cause dementia, blindness or death even after the infection is destroyed.
The best way to prevent a syphilis infection is abstinence. When you do have a sexual encounter always use a condom and limit your sexual partners. It is also important to communicate with any sexual partner about health issues that may effect each other.