Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea services offered in Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows and Mt. Prospect, IL

Nearly one million new gonorrhea infections occur yearly in the United States. At NewMed Immediate Care in Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, and Prospect, Illinois, the highly trained medical team diagnoses and treats gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) to reduce the risk of complications and disease transmission. Get an STD test by calling the office, booking an appointment online, or walking in today.

What is gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a common STD, or sexually transmitted disease, caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) bacteria. It’s the second most common bacterial STD behind chlamydia.

People who are sexually active may contract gonorrhea by having unprotected sex (oral, anal, or vaginal) with an infected partner. Mothers can pass it to their babies during childbirth. Fortunately, treatment can cure gonorrhea.

Does gonorrhea cause symptoms?

Gonorrhea might not cause any symptoms, which is why routine STD testing (if you have risk factors) is highly important. When not treated, gonorrhea can spread to other people and cause complications.

If you do have symptoms (about 50% of women and even more men experience symptoms), they may include:

Pelvic or lower abdominal pain
Unusual vaginal discharge that is yellow or white
Pain during urination
Pain during sex
Bleeding between periods in women
Yellow, white, or green penis discharge in men
Burning or pain with urination
Swollen or painful testicles in men

It’s also possible to have a gonorrhea infection in your throat via oral sex or in your rectum after having anal sex with an infected partner.

Symptoms may not develop for several weeks after being infected with gonorrhea.

What are the risk factors for gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea risk factors include:

Having unprotected sex
Being under the age of 25
History of STDs
Not using a condom during sex
Having multiple sexual partners
Men who have sex with men

Using a condom or dental dam during sex reduces the risk of contracting gonorrhea and other STDs.

Which complications can untreated gonorrhea cause?

When left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to liver inflammation, painful or swollen joints, brain damage, and heart valve damage. It can cause damage to reproductive organs, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, and infertility in women. In men, untreated gonorrhea can cause testicle inflammation, urethra scarring, prostate problems, and infertility.

How is gonorrhea diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosing gonorrhea may involve a pelvic exam and taking a cervical fluid sample from women or fluid from the penis in men. Your provider might swab your throat or rectum or have you leave a urine or blood sample.

Taking antibiotics can cure gonorrhea, but your partner must also be treated. The infection usually clears up within 7-14 days. Avoid sexual intercourse until your provider says it’s okay to avoid spreading the infection. You might need another STD test to ensure the gonorrhea clears.

Get a gonorrhea STD test at NewMed Immediate Care by calling the office, booking an appointment online, or walking into the office today.