Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
Overview
How Common Is It?
Age and Gender
Causes and Risk Factors
What Are the Mortality Rates for Gonorrhea?
Screening and Early Detection
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Gonorrhea Guide
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that infects the reproductive tract and the urethra. The STI often presents without symptoms, which makes it highly transmissible.
In 2018, roughly 1.6 million people were diagnosed with gonorrhea in the United States. Over half of the people who contract gonorrhea are between the ages of 15 and 24.
Solskin / Getty Images
Gonorrhea Overview
Gonorrheais highly common. When a person contracts the infection, they may beasymptomatic. Asymptomatic infections do not cause symptoms. Because there aren’t always symptoms, people can easily transmit the infection to others simply because they are unaware they have it.
Gonorrhea
The bacterium that causes gonorrhea can affect thecervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and urethra. It can also infect the mouth, throat, eyes, and rectum. When symptoms do develop, they often include:
The symptoms of gonorrhea can be so mild that they are mistaken for other types of infections such as aurinary tract infection.
What Percentage of People Experience Symptoms?The prevalence of symptoms depends on a person’s sex. Only 20% of females and roughly 10% to 15% of males will develop symptoms of a gonorrhea infection.
What Percentage of People Experience Symptoms?
The prevalence of symptoms depends on a person’s sex. Only 20% of females and roughly 10% to 15% of males will develop symptoms of a gonorrhea infection.
The Incubation Period of Common STIs
How Common Is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is an incrediblycommon STIand it was estimated that in 2016, 0.9% of females and 0.7% of males had gonorrhea worldwide.This roughly amounts to 30.6 million cases across the globe.
A total of 468,514 cases were reported in the United States for the same year, which amounts to 145.8 cases per 100,000 people in the country.
The most recent data compiled from 2020 shows that roughly 677,769 new cases were reported that year, showing an increase since 2016. It is estimated that the 2020 numbers show roughly 200 cases per 100,000 people.
The Cause of Rising CasesAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the increase in gonorrhea cases can be attributed to:Poverty and unstable housingDrug useA lack of medical care both pre- and post-pandemicInability to seek medical care due to lack of insuranceHigh community transmission
The Cause of Rising Cases
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the increase in gonorrhea cases can be attributed to:Poverty and unstable housingDrug useA lack of medical care both pre- and post-pandemicInability to seek medical care due to lack of insuranceHigh community transmission
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the increase in gonorrhea cases can be attributed to:
There is a disparity among ethnicities when it comes to gonorrhea rates.
Most Affected EthnicitiesGonorrhea affects a disproportionate number of people who are Black or American Indian or Alaska Native.
Most Affected Ethnicities
Gonorrhea affects a disproportionate number of people who are Black or American Indian or Alaska Native.
While higher rates of gonorrhea are generally found in males, there are some age groups where the opposite is true. Females between the ages of 10 to 19 have higher rates of infection than males.
Why Aren’t STD Screening Guidelines the Same For Men and Women?
Causes of Gonorrhea and Risk Factors
Anyone sexually active is at risk of contracting gonorrhea. This is especially true if they do not use condoms.
A Visual Guide to How Gonorrhea Looks
That said, gonorrhea can have severe health consequences if left untreated which can lead toinfertilityin both males and females.
How Does Gonorrhea Cause Infertility?In females, gonorrhea can cause infertility because the infection can damage the entire female reproductive system. In males, a small tube near the back of the testicles known as theepididymisbecomes inflamed. This tube has sperm ducts, and when it becomes inflamed, it can lead to infertility.
How Does Gonorrhea Cause Infertility?
In females, gonorrhea can cause infertility because the infection can damage the entire female reproductive system. In males, a small tube near the back of the testicles known as theepididymisbecomes inflamed. This tube has sperm ducts, and when it becomes inflamed, it can lead to infertility.
Can Chlamydia and Other STIs Come Back After Treatment?
Because gonorrhea is often asymptomatic, it’s important to participate inregular screenings. Early detection can help lower the risk that the infection will progress and cause infertility.
Yearly gonorrhea testing is recommended for:
Tests for gonorrheacan include a swab on the area affected (such as the throat, rectum, cervix/vagina, urethra) or a urine test.
Gonorrhea re-infection is common, so anyone with gonorrhea should be retested three months after treatment, even if their sex partners got treatment.
If a person gets diagnosed with gonorrhea, they should notify all recent sex partners to seek treatment in order to reduce risks of severe complications and re-infection.
7 Reasons Everyone Should Get Tested for STIs
Summary
Early screening is vital to keep the spread of the infection down because of the dangerous health consequences such as infertility and, rarely, death.
A Word From Verywell
Gonorrhea is incredibly common, so if you happen to get diagnosed with it, don’t panic. While the stigma attached to the infection may cause you to feel shame or embarrassment, you don’t need to feel that way.
Early detection is actually a good thing so that the disease doesn’t progress further and cause more severe health complications. If you are sexually active, the best thing you can do for yourself is get tested for gonorrhea once per year. This will help keep you and your partners safe from the infection.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhile gonorrhea can lead to death, it is incredibly rare. Research surrounding gonorrhea deaths is incredibly scarce because of that fact. People with untreated gonorrhea and female reproductive organs are the most at risk of death, but again, it is extremely rare.People of all ages can contract gonorrhea if they have unprotected sex with someone who has the infection. However, one age group is the most affected. That age group is young adults and teenagers between the ages of 15 and 24.Anyone who is sexually active runs the risk of contracting gonorrhea. Using condoms during all forms of sexual activity—vaginal, penile, anal, and oral—can significantly reduce that risk. Getting screened regularly can also help reduce the chances of the infection spreading.
While gonorrhea can lead to death, it is incredibly rare. Research surrounding gonorrhea deaths is incredibly scarce because of that fact. People with untreated gonorrhea and female reproductive organs are the most at risk of death, but again, it is extremely rare.
People of all ages can contract gonorrhea if they have unprotected sex with someone who has the infection. However, one age group is the most affected. That age group is young adults and teenagers between the ages of 15 and 24.
Anyone who is sexually active runs the risk of contracting gonorrhea. Using condoms during all forms of sexual activity—vaginal, penile, anal, and oral—can significantly reduce that risk. Getting screened regularly can also help reduce the chances of the infection spreading.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gonorrhea - CDC detailed fact sheet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gonorrhea - CDC basic fact sheet.
Ayinde O, Ross JDC.Time to resolution of genital symptoms for uncomplicated gonorrhoea: a prospective cohort study.Sex Transm Infect.2021 Aug;97(5):368-374. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2020-054626
Kirkcaldy RD, Weston E, Segurado AC, Hughes G.Epidemiology of gonorrhoea: a global perspective.Sex Health.2019 Sep;16(5):401-411. doi:10.1071/SH19061
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2016.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2020 national overview.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Reported STDs reach all-time high for 6th consecutive year.
McElligott KA.Mortality from sexually transmitted diseases in reproductive-aged women: United States, 1999-2010.Am J Public Health.2014 Aug;104(8):e101-5. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.302044
Chemaitelly H, Majed A, Abu-Hijleh F, Blondeel K, Matsaseng TC, Kiarie J, Toskin I, Abu-Raddad LJ.Global epidemiology ofNeisseria gonorrhoeaein infertile populations: systematic review, meta-analysis and metaregression.Sex Transm Infect.2021 Mar;97(2):157-169. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2020-054515
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