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- Gonorrhea is a curable infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoea.
- Gonorrhea is transmitted during vaginal, anal, and oral sex (performing or receiving).
- Many men infected with gonorrhea exhibit symptoms, while most women are asymptomatic. Even when women do have symptoms, they can be mistaken for a bladder infection or other vaginal infection.
- In men, symptoms usually appear within 2 to 5 days after infection, with a possible range of 1 to 30 days.
- Although most women infected are asymptomatic (without symptoms), women who develop symptoms will do so within 10 days of infection.
- Since symptoms may not be present, the only way for a person who has been at risk for gonorrhea to tell whether they're infected is to be tested.
- A person with gonorrhea must be considered infectious (able to transmit the bacteria) from the time of exposure until treatment is successful.
- Gonorrhea can be diagnosed through a urine test or by taking a specimen from the infected area.
- If left untreated, gonorrhea can cause complications such as PID and infertility.
- Gonorrhea can be transmitted even if the penis or tongue does not enter the vagina, mouth, or rectum. Using latex condoms from the very beginning of sexual contact until there is no longer skin contact reduces the risk of transmission of gonorrhea.
