Gonorrhea (also known as gonnococcal infection, gonococcal urethritis, gonorrhoea,

and the clap)[1] is a sexually transmitted infection that is caused by the bacterium Neisseria
gonorrhoeae. The usual symptoms in men are a burning sensation with urinationand discharge
from the penis. Women have no symptoms about half the time or have vaginal
discharge and pelvic pain. In both men and women, if gonorrhea is left untreated, it may spread
locally, causing inflammation of the epididymis or pelvic inflammatory disease or throughout the
body, affecting joints and heart valves.
Testing all women who are sexually active and less than 25 years of age each year is
recommended.[2] This same recommendation applies in men who have sex with men.[2]
Gonorrhea can be prevented with the use of condoms.[2] Treatment is usually with ceftriaxone,
as resistance has developed to many previously used antibiotics. Ceftriaxone is typically given in
combination with either azithromycin or doxycycline, as gonorrhea infections may occur along
with chlamydia, an infection that ceftriaxone does not treat. Some strains of gonorrhea have
begun showing resistance to this treatment,[3] which will make infection more difficult to treat.
[4]

Retesting is recommended three months after treatment.[2]

An estimated 88 million cases of gonorrhea occur each year, out of the 448 million new cases of
all curable STI each year that also includes syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis.[5] Infections
in women most commonly occur when they are young adults.[2] As of 2010, it caused about 900
deaths, down from 1,100 in 1990.[6]