 |
 |
 |
|
||
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
Sexually Transmitted DiseasesTreatment of gonorrheaAntibiotic medications are used to treat gonorrhea. In the past, some type of penicillin was typically used for the treatment of gonorrhea. Because penicillin-resistant gonorrhea is increasing, other antibiotics that are given orally or by injection are now used to treat most gonococcal infections. Gonorrhea often occurs together with chlamydia infection, another common sexually transmitted disease (STD). When this is the case, doctors usually prescribe a combination of antibiotics to treat both diseases. All sex partners of a person with gonorrhea should be tested and treated appropriately, even if they do not have symptoms of infection.If gonorrhea is not treated, the bacteria can spread to the bloodstream and infect the joints, heart valves, or the brain. The most common consequence of gonorrhea, however, is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious infection of the female reproductive organs that occurs in an estimated 1 million American women each year. PID can scar or damage the cells lining the fallopian tubes resulting in infertility in as many as 10 percent of women affected. In others, the damage prevents the proper passage of the fertilized egg into the uterus. If this happens, the egg may implant in the tube. This is called an ectopic or tubal pregnancy and is life threatening to the mother if not detected early.
|
|
 Clinicians | Practices | All About Pregnancy | All About MidLife | Health & Wellness | Home  ©2001-2002 Women's Health USA, Inc. |