Gonorrhea: Physician warns against complications

Gonorrhea

FILE PHOTO: Gonorrhea bacteria

FILE PHOTO: Gonorrhea bacteria

Dr Osazuwa Innocent, a Medical Officer at Calvary Estate Hospital, Benin, has warned that untreated gonorrhoea (a sexually transmitted bacterial) can cause infertility.

Innocent said this on Monday in Benin.

“Gonorrhea is an infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

“It not only affects the reproductive tract but can also affect the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, eyes and rectum.

“It is an infection transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person, involving the penis, vagina, anus or mouth.

“Gonorrhea can develop into more serious medical conditions if not treated,” he said.

According to Innocent, infection may spread through the bloodstream and affect mucous membranes throughout the body.

He further disclosed that the symptoms may appear within two to 10 days after exposure to an infected person-even longer for women, up to three weeks.

He said that men have a 20 per cent chance of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a woman infected with gonorrhoea.

“Women have a 50 per cent chance of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a man infected with gonorrhoea.

“Even an infected mother may transmit gonorrhoea to her newborn during vaginal childbirth,’’ he said.

Innocent said that infected women have no symptoms in 30 per cent to 40 per cent of cases, revealing that it is possible to be infected with gonorrhoea and not know about the infection.

He said the gonorrhoea symptoms in men included pain or burning during urination in most men and thick yellow penile discharge.

Other symptoms are inflammation and tenderness of a duct in the testicles and inflammation and pain in the prostate gland.

Innocent said that the symptoms in newborns included irritation of the mucous membranes in the eyes, adding that the situation can cause blindness if not treated on time.

He said gonorrhoea is almost always sexually transmitted and is most easily passed on, during unprotected sex, adding that genital sex with an infected person will cause gonorrhoea of the genitals.

The physician advised anyone with such symptoms to see a medical doctor.

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