Gonorrhea is Becoming Drug Resistant

We are sure that most of you know that gonorrhea is an STD (sexually transmitted disease).  According to the  CDC (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention) every year more than 700,000 people in the United States get gonorrhea infections.  It is the second most common sexually transmitted infection after chlamydia.


Gonorrhea is caused by a bacteria that can grow easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (urine canal) in women and men. The bacteria can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.

People get gonorrhea by having sex anally, vaginally and orally with someone who has the disease.   Gonorrhea can also be transmitted via fluids even if a man does not ejaculate. Gonorrhea can also be spread from an untreated mother to her baby during childbirth unlike HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). Babies born to mothers with gonorrhea have a 50 percent chance of developing eye infections that can result in blindness.

Gonorrhea can be cured with the right medications, but recently the World Health Organization tells us that some of the strains of the disease are growing resistant to drugs and could soon become untreatable. What??  Yes! apparently the  organism has basically been developing resistance against medication.  This includes a group of antibiotics called cephalosporins  currently considered the last line of treatment for gonorrhea.

Resistance to cephalosporins was first reported in Japan, but recently has been detected in Britain, Australia, France, Sweden and Norway. The World Health Organization feel that this is not only an European problem, but a worldwide problem.  So, we have to become vigilant in spotting the disease and taking steps to stop its spread.

How can we prevent getting Gonnorhea? 

1.  The best way is to abstain from sexual intercourse.  Ooop! You don't like this idea?  Well.....

2.   Another option is to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is not infected.

3.   Use condoms consistently and correctly. It can reduce the risk of getting gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

4.   Women are often misdiagnosed as having vagina or bladder infections.  Your doctor should be made aware of any bleeding between menstrual periods, excessive vaginal discharge and painful urination. 

5.  For men ~ there might be no symptoms.  But make sure you make your doctor aware if you have yellow, white or green discharge from the penis,  burning during urination and/or swollen testicles. 

6.  If you are diagnosed with gonorrhea please talk to your sexual partner(s) so they can get tested and stop having sex until it is cleared.


We know that we are not  going to be able to get rid of this disease completely (we hope we do one day), but we think we can limit the spread of the disease by becoming aware, educating yourself and be vigilant with your own health.

Mujeres Take Care of Yourselves!!!!