Its a sexually transmitted bacterial infection.

Signs and symptoms

In Men-

  • Infertility

  • Swollen painful testes/scrotum

  • Joint pain and infection

  • Pus like eye discharge in one eye

  • Painful urination

  • Lower abdominal pain

  • Penile discharge

  • Rectal infection if you engage in anal intercourse

  • Throat infection from oral sex

    Women;

  • Pus like vaginal discharge and bleeding after intercourse in women

  • Lower abdominal pain

  • Painful urination

  • Joint pain and infection

  • Rectal infection if you engage in anal intercourse

  • Throat infection from oral sex

  • It can also present without symptoms

Why is this important?

It causes infertility yet can be treated

It affects the unborn baby if left untreated and you are pregnant .

It can cause

  • eye infection in the baby

  • miscarriages

  • premature birth of the baby

  • underweight babies

How to test for it

Give a urine sample or take a swab of the genital discharge at any laboratory.

You can have it routinely tested at a laboratory even without symptoms if your sexually active.

Treatment

Treatment involves an injection of antibiotics(Ceftriaxone) and some tablets(Doxycycline or Azithromycin) for several days for both you and your partner.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea have similar symptoms and therefore it maybe safer to get treated for both in one instance.

Treatment for you and your sexual partner are important to get rid of sexually transmitted infections permanently.

How to prevent it

  • Use a condom

  • Treat with antibiotics if infected

Take advantage and do a HIV test while getting checked. Not knowing your status has consequences. Protect yourself.