What are the differences between gonorrhea and chlamydia?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that is on the rise, especially among young people. It is important to be cautious of this disease. Gonorrhea is caused by two types of bacteria: Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. This article is written by a doctor from PSK Clinic, a clinic that specializes in treating gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases. We will explain the differences between gonorrhea and chlamydia, including diagnostic tests and basic treatment guidelines.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can affect both men and women who are sexually active. This bacterium resides in the semen and vaginal fluid of women, leading to the spread of gonorrhea through sexual intercourse, including penetration and oral sex. The areas affected by gonorrhea include the penis, female genitals, anus, and vagina.
How can gonorrhea be transmitted?
Gonorrhea is transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected person. It can be spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Additionally, if a mother is infected with gonorrhea during pregnancy, the child can also be infected during birth.
What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea has an incubation period of approximately 3-5 days after infection, and men tend to show symptoms more than women. It has been found that about 80% of women infected with gonorrhea are asymptomatic, while only about 10-15% of men are asymptomatic.
Symptoms of gonorrhea in women may include:
A burning sensation when urinating
Yellow-green vaginal discharge or pus mucus
Bleeding during sexual intercourse
Symptoms of gonorrhea in men may include:
A burning sensation when urinating
Discharge of pus from the urethra
Pain and swelling around the seminal ducts
Complications can arise if gonorrhea is not treated properly. In men, an untreated gonorrhea infection can spread to the testicles, potentially leading to infertility. In women, an untreated gonorrhea infection can spread to the uterus and increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
In addition, people who engage in anal sex may experience symptoms in the anal area, such as the presence of yellow pus mixed with stool, itching in the anus, and pain during defecation. If you experience these symptoms, it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately for a proper examination and treatment.
| Symptoms of gonorrhea in women | Symptoms of gonorrhea in men |
|---|---|
| A burning sensation when urinating | A burning sensation when urinating |
| Yellow-green vaginal discharge or pus mucus | Discharge of pus from the urethra |
| Bleeding during sexual intercourse | Pain and swelling around the seminal ducts |
How to test for gonorrhea?
Testing for gonorrhea infection can be done by collecting a sample of pus from the urethra in male patients or from the vagina or anus in female patients. The sample is then stained to determine the presence of gonorrhea bacteria. This method can only be used in cases where there are symptoms and pus. In cases where there are symptoms but no pus, staining may cause the test results to be less accurate.
There are now more accurate methods for testing for gonorrhea. It is divided into two methods, including the Rapid test method for testing in cases where the patient has symptoms and pus. The test results are more accurate than the gonorrhea stain. Additionally, there is the PCR test method for testing in cases where the patient has symptoms but does not have pus, or for the general public who do not have symptoms but want to screen for gonorrhea. This method is more than 99.9% accurate.
How can gonorrhea be treated?
Gonorrhea is typically treated with antibiotics, such as an injection of Ceftriaxone or the oral medication Cefixime. In cases where the patient is unable to receive an injection, Cefixime may be used as an alternative treatment for gonorrhea.
If the patient is allergic to drugs in the Cephalosporin group, Gentamycin may be used as an alternative injection. However, drugs in the Quinolone group, such as Norfloxacin or Ciprofloxacin, are not recommended for treating gonorrhea due to reported drug resistance in over 50% of cases.
Is there a possibility of gonorrhea recurring?
Gonorrhea is a curable disease, but it can also recur. In the case of individuals infected with gonorrhea who have a partner and continue to have regular sexual intercourse, doctors will also recommend treating the partner of the infected person. This is because if only one person infected with gonorrhea is treated, it may lead to repeated gonorrhea infections in couples who do not receive treatment. This is because couples may have been infected with gonorrhea but have not shown any symptoms.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia (Non-Specific Urethritis) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. There are also other types of chlamydia, such as Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealytica, Ureaplasma parvum, and vaginal parasites like Trichomonas vaginalis, which are found in semen and vaginal secretions. Chlamydia infection is transmitted through sexual contact. It can also cause complications such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy in infected women if not treated properly.
How can chlamydia be transmitted?
Chlamydia is spread through unprotected sex with someone infected with chlamydia, even if there is no ejaculation of semen. It can also be contracted through oral sex.
Chlamydia infection can occur in various areas of the body, including the penis, clitoris, vagina, anus, mouth, and inside the throat. It has also been found in mothers who were infected with chlamydia during pregnancy. Improper chlamydia treatment can also lead to the spread of the infection to the child during delivery.
Symptoms of chlamydia
Chlamydia has an incubation period of 1-4 weeks, and the majority of people infected with chlamydia do not develop symptoms. 50% of men and over 75% of women infected with chlamydia are asymptomatic.
Symptoms of chlamydia in women may include:
A burning sensation when urinating
Vaginal discharge, which may be clear mucus mixed with pus and not thick
Bleeding during sexual intercourse
Symptoms of chlamydia in men may include:
A burning sensation when urinating
Discharge of pus from the urethra
Pain and swelling around the seminal ducts
Complications that can occur if chlamydia is not properly treated include the following: For men, if left untreated, chlamydia may spread to the testicles and cause infertility. For women, if left untreated, chlamydia may spread to the uterus and increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
In addition, people who engage in anal sex may experience symptoms of chlamydia in the anal area, such as yellow pus mixed with stool, itching in the anus, pain during defecation, and bleeding from the anus. If you experience these symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor immediately to get tested for chlamydia and receive proper treatment.
| Symptoms of chlamydia in women | Symptoms of chlamydia in men |
|---|---|
| A burning sensation when urinating | A burning sensation when urinating |
| Vaginal discharge, which may be clear mucus mixed with pus and not thick | Discharge of pus from the urethra |
| Bleeding during sexual intercourse | Pain and swelling around the seminal ducts |
How to test for chlamydia?
Diagnosis of chlamydia can be done through a rapid test, which can be performed on patients with symptoms and pus, or on those with symptoms but no pus. The test results are highly accurate, with an accuracy of over 95%.
There is also a comprehensive PCR test method that can be used to examine patients with symptoms, without symptoms, with discharge, or without discharge, as well as for those who would like to be screened for chlamydia for peace of mind. This method is more than 99.9% accurate.
How is chlamydia treated?
The current treatment for chlamydia involves antibiotics. The most widely used drug for treating chlamydia is Doxycycline, which can be taken by both men and women. However, the CDC has found that reports of drug resistance in oral chlamydia are increasing, particularly with the drug Azithromycin. As a result, treatment with Azithromycin has a lower recovery rate than the use of Doxycycline.
What is the difference between gonorrhea and chlamydia?
Both diseases are caused by the same bacterial infection and exhibit similar symptoms. They are also transmitted through sexual intercourse. Briefly summarize the differences between gonorrhea and chlamydia as follows:
| Gonorrhea | Chlamydia |
|---|---|
| Bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae | Bacillus clamydiae trachomatis |
| Incubation period 3-5 days | Incubation period 7-30 days |
| The pus is thick and opaque | The symptoms are not as severe as those of gonorrhea |
| Complications such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy can arise | Complications such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic inflammatory disease can arise |
| Treated with antibiotics and continuously following up with the doctor for symptoms | Treated with antibiotics and continuously following up with the doctor for symptoms |
Gonorrhea prevention
To prevent gonorrhea and chlamydia, it is recommended to do the following:
- Always use a condom when engaging in sexual activity.
- Avoid sharing sex toys with others.
- It is not advisable to have multiple sexual partners to reduce the risk of infection.
- Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases every 3-6 months or annually.
- If you experience symptoms of gonorrhea, refrain from having sex and seek medical attention promptly.
How much time is required to treat gonorrhea?
The duration of treatment for gonorrhea depends on the type of gonorrhea that is identified.
- Treatment of gonorrhea: It is recommended to use the antibiotic Ceftriaxone at a dose of 500 mg intramuscularly in the hip area as a single dose, or the antibiotic Cefixime at a dose of 800 mg orally as a single dose.
- Treatment of chlamydia: Antibiotics are the recommended treatment for Chlamydia based on the type of infection detected.
- Chlamydia trachomatis recommends using the antibiotic Azithromycin 1 gm, taken once, or the antibiotic Doxycycline 100 mg, taken as 1 tablet 2 times a day for 7 days.
- It is recommended to use the antibiotic Moxifloxacin 100 mg for Mycoplasma (Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis). Take 1 tablet once a day for 7 days.
- Ureaplasma (Ureaplasma urealytica, Ureaplasma parvum) is typically treated with either a single 1 gm dose of Azithromycin or a 7-day course of Doxycycline, with a dosage of 100 mg taken twice daily.
- Vaginal parasites (Trichomonas vaginalis) require treatment with antibiotics. It is recommended to take Metronidazole 400 mg, 1 tablet three times a day for 7 days.
Taking care of yourself while undergoing treatment for gonorrhea
After being properly diagnosed and treated for gonorrhea by a doctor, patients should abstain from sexual intercourse for at least 7 days. When being treated with medication, it is important to take your medicine on time and regularly. If symptoms persist or do not improve after treatment, please return to see your doctor immediately, as drug-resistant symptoms may occur. Once the patient has recovered, it is recommended to return for gonorrhea screening after 3 months.
Gonorrhea's relationship to other sexually transmitted diseases
Gonorrhea and chlamydia infections can significantly increase the risk of contracting HIV through sexual contact in individuals with these infections.
Common misunderstandings about the transmission of gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection, so it cannot be contracted from sharing items or using the bathroom.
