How is gonorrhea tested in women?

Written by Li Shun Hua

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Updated on September 02, 2024

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For female gonorrhea testing, the main areas examined are the cervical canal and urinary meatus. This involves using a speculum to open the cervix, and then taking secretion samples for laboratory testing. The lab tests can detect Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that indicates a gonococcal infection. This type of infection commonly affects the cervix and urethra, leading to symptoms in the urinary system and abnormal vaginal discharge. This disease is mostly transmitted through sexual activity, and it is necessary for both partners to be treated simultaneously.

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Written by Qu Jing

Dermatology

1min 21sec

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What causes asymptomatic gonorrhea?

Most patients with gonorrhea have clinical manifestations, and only a few with mild or chronic infections may not exhibit obvious symptoms. Gonorrhea is caused by an infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, commonly known as gonococcus. It primarily manifests as a purulent infection of the urinary and reproductive systems, and can also lead to pharyngeal, rectal, and disseminated gonococcal infections. It has a short incubation period, is highly contagious, and can lead to various complications and sequelae. Gonorrhea is mainly transmitted through sexual contact, with the patient being the source of infection. In rare cases, it can be contracted through contact with secretions containing gonococci or contaminated items, such as clothing, bedding, towels, bathtubs, and toilet seats. Females, including young girls, due to the short length of the urethra and genitalia, are easily infected. It is often through shared family use of bath items and towels that infection occurs. Newborns can be infected through the birth canal of a mother with gonorrhea, leading to neonatal gonococcal conjunctivitis. Pregnant women infected with gonorrhea may transmit the bacteria to the amniotic fluid, potentially infecting the fetus.

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Written by Zhai Yu Juan

Dermatology Department

58sec

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Can gonorrhea and AIDS occur at the same time?

Gonorrhea and AIDS are both sexually transmitted diseases, and their transmission routes can be through sexual contact, mother-to-child transmission, and close living contact. The pathogens are different; gonorrhea is mainly caused by an infection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae leading to acute inflammation of the urogenital tract, while AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease caused by an HIV infection, which can affect various organs throughout the body. When infected with one sexually transmitted disease, other pathogens can also infect simultaneously. Therefore, after diagnosing one sexually transmitted disease, it is important to check for the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS, genital warts, syphilis, etc., to see if there is a co-infection.

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Written by Zhai Yu Juan

Dermatology Department

48sec

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Is gonorrhea serious?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the infection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Its primary mode of transmission is through sexual contact, though some patients can also be infected through direct contact, mother-to-child transmission, or close living contact. Early symptoms of gonorrhea in males can include acute urethritis, painful urination, and frequent urination, with pus from the urethral opening in the morning. In females, the symptoms of gonorrhea are generally atypical, possibly presenting only as mild vaginitis or cervicitis. After a diagnosis of gonorrhea, comprehensive formal treatment is necessary. Without proper treatment, gonorrhea can recur and become chronic.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei

Obstetrics and Gynecology

34sec

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Is vestibular adenitis the same as gonorrhea?

Bartholin's gland inflammation is not limited to gonorrhea; these are two different diseases. Bartholin's gland inflammation refers to the condition where pathogenic microorganisms enter the Bartholin's glands through their external openings, causing inflammation of these glands. Gonorrhea, on the other hand, is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a specific pathogenic microorganism, primarily transmitted through sexual contact. These two are not equivalent; therefore, they require different treatments.

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Written by Chen Feng

Urology

1min 9sec

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Painful urination without discharge, is it gonorrhea?

Pain during urination without discharge is generally not gonorrhea; clinically, it is more commonly a urinary tract infection, such as cystitis. Patients with cystitis, due to the inflammation irritating the bladder mucosa, generally exhibit signs of bladder irritation, characterized by frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination. The pain during urination is usually felt as a stabbing or burning sensation in the urethra, but those with cystitis generally do not have any discharge. Clinically, to confirm whether it is gonorrhea, one must first consider the patient's medical history, since gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease. Typically, there is a history of unprotected sexual activity before the onset of symptoms, which primarily include redness and swelling of the urethral mucosa, discomfort and itching in the urethra, and painful urination. There would also be a significant amount of white discharge from the urethral opening, consisting of pus. Therefore, the absence of discharge generally rules out gonorrhea. A urine culture can also be done to determine the type of bacterial infection.