Gonorrhea

The Causes

Gonorrhea is caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. The infection is transmitted from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal sexual relations.

* Men have a 20% chance of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a woman infected with gonorrhea.

* Women have a 50% chance of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a man infected with gonorrhea.

* An infected mother may transmit gonorrhea to her newborn during vaginal childbirth.

The symptoms

Symptoms may appear within 2-10 days after exposure to an infected person-even longer for women (up to 3 weeks).

Men

* Pain or burning during urination in most men

* Thick, yellow penile discharge 50% of the time

* Inflammation or infection of a duct in the testicles

* Infection or inflammation of the prostate

Women

* No symptoms 30-40% of the time

* Gonorrhea may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (a serious medical condition that can lead to infertility)

* Infection and irritation of the cervix

* Need to urinate often

* Itching and burning of the vagina, usually with a thick yellow/green discharge

* Infection and irritation of the vagina (this is how the infection usually appears in children who may be victims of incest)

* Bleeding between menstrual periods

Newborns

* Irritation of the mucous membranes in the eyes (if not treated, can cause blindness)

Other

* Gonococcal throat infection should be considered in people who complain of sore throat and have other signs of gonococcal infection. Throat infections from gonorrhea are transmitted through oral sex but occur without any other symptoms in less than 5% of people infected with gonorrhea.

* Rectal pain or discharge can be a sign of infection of the prostate and is transmitted through anal intercourse.

The treatment

Gonorrhea can develop into more serious medical conditions if not treated. You must see a doctor for treatment.

Syphilis

Signs and Symptoms of Syphilis for Men

Syphilis is characterized by four stages. There is an incubation period between of 9 days and 3 months between getting syphilis and showing the first signs and symptoms of the disease. The initial infection starts with about 1000 germs passed on during sex. This bacteria grow to about 100 to 200 million within 3 weeks.
Each stage has typical symptoms but these signs and symptoms of syphilis can vary or be absent.

Signs and Symptoms of Primary Stage Syphilis

The primary stage of syphilis, often begins with a sore on the part that has been in contact with the infection, the genitals, rectum or mouth. The sore feels like a button, firm, oval and round. It usually measures about 1.25com or 1/2in across. Swelling of the glands in the groin may occur but is not usually sore or tender.
You do not usually feel ill in the primary stage of syphilis and the sore heals after a few weeks without treatment. This is a problem because the syphilis has not gone. Syphilis continues to spread throughout the body.

Signs and Symptoms of Secondary Stage Syphilis

From the primary stage the disease moves into the secondary stage of syphilis. This secondary stage of syphilis can often occur after a gap of several weeks when the bacteria have spread through the body. You may start to feel unwell, features include headaches, general aches and pains, sickness, loss of appetite and maybe a fever.
Breaks in the skin occur and sometimes a dark red rash. The rash that occurs in the secondary stage of syphilis can last for a few weeks or months. The rash appears on the backs of the legs and the front of the arms and often on your back, face, hands and feet. It does not itch and may be either raised or flat in appearance.
Other symptoms can also include sores in the mouth, nose, throat, genitals or in the folds of the skin. Hair can fall out in patches. These signs and symptoms of syphilis will disappear without treatment in between 3 weeks to 9 months. The signs and symptoms of syphilis have moved to the next stage, but the bacteria are still present in the body and you still have syphilis.

Signs and Symptoms of Latent Stage of Syphilis

The latent stage of syphilis can last from between a few months to up to 50 years! There are no symptoms and after about 2 years the man ceases to be infectious. However syphilis is still present in the latent stage and syphilis can be seen in blood tests.

Signs and Symptoms of Final Stage Tertiary Syphilis

The final stage of syphilis, is known as the tertiary stage. The tertiary stage occurs in about a third of those who are not treated. Common symptoms are painful permanent ulcers on the skin, lesions on ligaments, joints and on bones. Tertiary syphilis can attack the nervous system, the heart and blood vessels that results in blindness, paralysis, and insanity.