I hope I find you in good health. Gonorrhea (also referred to as "Drop" in local bar man's talk) is among the most common curable sexually transmitted infections in Zimbabwe. This means that you get it by having oral or vaginal sex with someone who is infected with gonorrhea. It is spread through semen or vaginal fluids during unprotected sexual contact with a partner who has it. Touching infected sex organs, and then touching your eyes can cause an eye infection.
It's caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, that can grow in warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, like the cervix(opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals), in women as well as the urethra (urine canal) in men and women. Gonorrhea can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus. Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhoea.
Infection with gonorrhea increases your risk of becoming contracting HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). This is likely due to inflammation and weakening of the mucosal surface secondary to the gonorrhea infection. This effect is however by no means limited to gonorrhea alone as there is increased risk of HIV transmission with co-infection of most sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Ten to 15 percent of men with gonorrhoea may have no symptoms at all so they spread this infection unknowingly. Most men have some signs or symptoms that appear two to seven days after infection although it can take as long as 30 days for symptoms to begin. These include a burning sensation when urinating or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes you may get painful or swollen testicles.
In women, the symptoms of gonorrhoea are often mild, but about 80 percent of women who are infected have no symptoms. So they also spread this infection unknowingly. When a woman does have symptoms, they can be so non-specific as to be mistaken for just another bladder or vaginal infection. The symptoms often appear within 10 days of getting the STI. These may include pain or burning sensation when passing urine, vaginal discharge that is yellow or sometimes bloody, heavy bleeding with periods or pain during sex. More advanced symptoms, which may indicate development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), include cramps and pain, bleeding between menstrual periods, vomiting, or fever.Any of these symptoms should be a signal to stop having sex and to see your doctor right away. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, whether or not there are symptoms. An infected person will continue to spread the infection until properly treated.

Men and women with an anal infection might have symptoms that may include discharge, soreness, bleeding, or itching of the anus, and painful bowel movements. Infections in the throat may cause a sore throat but usually cause no symptoms. With an eye infection, symptoms may include redness, itching, or discharge from the eye.
If you are pregnant and have untreated gonorrhea you may be at risk for a miscarriage, preterm delivery, or having your water break too early. You may give the infection to your baby as the baby passes through the birth canal during delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby. Treating the newborn's eyes with an antibiotic immediately after delivery can prevent serious eye infections. Treatment of gonorrhea as soon as it is found in you will reduce the risk of these health complications. Your sex partner(s) must also be treated for gonorrhea. When you are pregnant it may be wise to consult your doctor for appropriate examination, testing, and treatment for gonorrhoea as necessary.
Several antibiotics (Ceftriaxone Ciprofloxacin Levofloxacin and Doxycycline) can successfully treat gonorrhoea. However, drug-resistant strains of gonorrhoea are increasing in many areas of the world and successful treatment of gonorrhoea is becoming more difficult. Gonorrhoea and chlamydia, another common STI, often infect people at the same time. So your doctor may prescribe a combination of antibiotics which will treat both diseases. Therefore if you have gonorrhoea you should be tested for other STIs.

Although medication will stop the infection, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease. If you have had gonorrhoea and have been treated you can get the disease again if you have sexual contact with an infected partner. If your symptoms continue even after receiving treatment, you should return to your doctor to be re-evaluated.
If your gonorrhoea is not treated there is a good chance that serious and permanent health problems may occur. In women, gonorrhoea is a common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) PID can lead to internal abscesses and long-lasting, chronic pelvic pain. It can damage your fallopian tubes enough to cause infertility or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition in which a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.
In men, gonorrhoea can cause epididymitis, a painful condition of the testicles that can lead to infertility if left untreated. Also it affects the prostate gland and causes scarring in the urine canal. Gonorrhoea can spread to the blood or joints. This condition can be life threatening. In addition, if you have gonorrhoea you can contract or transmit HIV, the virus that causes AIDS more easily.
The surest way for you to avoid transmission of gonorrhoea is to abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected. You can also use latex condoms consistently and correctly.
Therefore, it is extremely important for you to either prevent yourself from getting gonorrhoea or get treated early if you already are infected with it.

Till next week take care of yourself and each other. And remember, '…in all your getting, get understanding.' (Proverbs 4 verse 7).