Gonorrhea—Shrinking treatment options

Gonorrhea is a relatively common infection among men who have sex with men, but it is becoming more common in heterosexual people. It is caused by the bactera Neisseria gonorrhoeae . This infection is transmitted via unprotected anal, oral and vaginal sex and can quickly be treated with antibiotics, but, if left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious problems. Such problems can occur because gonorrhea-causing germs move from the anus, penis or vagina toward the ovaries and testicles or these germs spread through the bloodstream to the skin, joints, heart or brain. Gonorrhea not only causes pain and suffering but, like many sexually transmitted infections (STIs), it can cause inflammation in delicate ano-genital tissue. Such inflammation makes it easier to acquire or transmit HIV.