In Nigeria, gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is a major public health concern. To reduce the spread of this infection, it is critical to understand how to treat gonorrhea without visiting a doctor.
We will explore the Nigerian perspective on finding an appropriate treatment for gonorrhea and its effect on the general populace.
What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. These bacteria prefer warm and moist places on the body. The eyes, vagina, anus, throat, and urinary tract are good examples of such places.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the second most cause of sexually transmitted infections worldwide (including Nigerians) according to the World Health Organization. And it estimates that over 106 million fresh cases are reported worldwide.
It notably affects the young adult population and it is recorded to be in existence since the biblical days which means gonorrhea has been causing infections for thousands of years.
What causes gonorrhea?
Neisseria gonorrhoeae evidently causes gonorrhea through sexual contact in these forms; oral, vaginal, and anal sex because this bacteria is resident in semen and vaginal fluids. Well, touching an infected area can also lead to the spread of this bacteria.
This method of spread is the same for the different localities, whether you are a Nigerian or not.
How is gonorrhea transmitted?
According to a study, gonorrhea is a prevalent sexually transmitted disease in Nigeria. The study irrefutably stated that Lagos is having the highest gonorrhea rate in the world.
Gonorrhea as earlier stated is known to be transmitted via vaginal, oral, and anal sexual intercourse with an infected person. Also, the urethra and the eye conjunctiva can be infected.
In some cases, the pharynx of newborns can be infected too when newborns come in contact with infected body parts of their mother.
What are the risk factors for getting gonorrhea?
The factors that may increase the risk of getting gonorrhea include:
- Having multiple sex partners
- Having unprotected sexual intercourse
- Having other sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia
- Being a man who has sex with men.
This study explains why men who have sex with men in Nigeria are more prone to gonorrhea than in the general population.
What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
Some symptoms of gonorrhea vary both in men and women while some are alike. Symptoms of gonorrhea in women are most times not noticed.
However, women might experience a burning sensation when peeing, observe an abnormal vaginal discharge that is either yellowish or bloody, an increased urge to urinate, pain during intercourse, and bleeding when not having a menstrual period.
Symptoms of gonorrhea in men are quite prone especially one week after getting the bacteria. The symptoms include a burning sensation when urinating, an increased urge to urinate, yellow, green, or white discharge from the mouth of the penis, and swelling of the testis.
These symptoms differ from the symptoms experienced in the anal area which include itching in or around the opening of the anus and pains when you use the toilet.
Notably, many people who have gonorrhea are asymptomatic.
Can gonorrhea infection spread to other unlikely parts of the body?
Yes, when gonorrhea infection is not treated, it can spread to other parts of the body.
Pelvic inflammatory disease is a typical example of a complication that arises when gonorrhea spreads to the reproductive organs of women.
How is gonorrhea diagnosed?
If a doctor suspects that a person has gonorrhea, they will typically take a sample of the discharge or urine to confirm the diagnosis.
The sample will be sent to a laboratory for testing, where the laboratory staff will use various techniques to look for the presence of the bacteria that cause gonorrhea.
One of the techniques used by the laboratory staff is a gram stain, in which they apply a special stain to the sample to identify the bacteria based on their physical and chemical properties.
Another technique that can be used is a culture, in which the sample is placed on a growth medium that allows the bacteria to multiply.
The laboratory staff can then identify the bacteria based on their appearance and other characteristics.
In addition to these techniques, laboratory staff can use nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) to look for the genetic material of the bacteria in the sample.
These tests are highly sensitive and can often detect low levels of bacteria that may not be detected by other methods.
How is gonorrhea treated in men and women?
Gonorrhea can sometimes go away on its own, but it is typically treated with antibiotics to prevent serious complications and reduce the risk of transmission to others.
The use of antibiotics involves either taking a single dose or a longer course of pills.
The most commonly used antibiotics according to CDC include ceftriaxone, azithromycin, and doxycycline.
But for effectiveness, the specific antibiotics used will depend on the patient’s individual situation.
This is partly why self-medication is not encouraged because it doesn’t accurately solve the illness since the actual problem is not known.
Completing the full course of antibiotics as prescribed is essential to ensure that the infection is completely cleared and does not return.
Also, it is proper to abstain from sexual activity until the infection is completely treated to avoid reinfection or transmission of the infection to others.
Home treatment for gonorrhea
There are no home remedies that can cure gonorrhea.
Although home remedies may help relieve symptoms, the most effective way to treat gonorrhea is with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.
How to cure gonorrhea without going to the doctor in Nigeria
If you are unable to visit a healthcare provider or clinic, there are some natural remedies that may help relieve symptoms, but these are not a substitute for proper medical treatment.
Some studies claim that certain herbs, such as garlic, turmeric, and echinacea, have antibacterial properties that may help fight the infection.
Nonetheless, they should not be relied on as a primary treatment for gonorrhea because there are not enough studies to back up these claims.
How long does it take gonorrhea to clear up?
Most people start to feel better within a few days of starting the antibiotic treatment.
Completing the full course of antibiotics is also crucial in reducing the risk of developing complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or infertility.
Can gonorrhea be cured by itself?
The infection does not go away on its own and can lead to the spread of the infection to other parts of the body, including the blood, skin, and joints.
In women, untreated gonorrhea can lead to PID, a condition that can cause permanent damage to the reproductive system and increase the risk of infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain.
In men, untreated gonorrhea can lead to epididymitis, which is inflammation of the tube that carries sperm.
Untreated gonorrhea can also increase the risk of contracting and transmitting other sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
This is because gonorrhea can cause inflammation and open sores in the genital area, which may make it easier for HIV to enter the body.
How do I prevent gonorrhea?
- The best way to prevent gonorrhea is to practice safe sex. This includes using condoms consistently and correctly during sexual activity and limiting your number of sexual partners.
- Having fewer sexual partners can decrease your risk of being exposed to gonorrhea or other sexually transmitted infections.
- Getting regular sexual health screenings, especially if you are sexually active with multiple partners.
- Your doctor can test you for gonorrhea and other STIs, and provide early diagnosis and treatment if necessary.
- Open communication with sexual partners
Can you treat gonorrhea without an injection?
Yes, gonorrhea can be treated without an injection. In many cases, antibiotics can be taken orally in the form of pills to treat the infection.
Can you get treated for gonorrhea without being tested?
It is not ideal to get treated for gonorrhea without being tested first.
Without a proper diagnosis, it is impossible to know if you have gonorrhea or another type of infection.
This can lead to ineffective treatment and potentially serious complications.
Can gonorrhea go away on its own in males?
Gonorrhea cannot go away on its own in males.
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria, which can affect both males and females.
In males, gonorrhea cannot go away on its own and requires treatment with antibiotics.
If left untreated, the infection can cause serious complications, including epididymitis, prostatitis, and infertility.
Epididymitis is inflammation of the epididymis, which is a tube at the back of the testicle that carries sperm.
Gonorrhea infection can cause the epididymitis to become inflamed and swollen, leading to pain in the scrotum and the testicles and painful urination.
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland, which surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body.
If gonorrhea is left untreated, the bacteria can spread to the prostate gland and cause it to become inflamed, leading to painful urination, difficulty urinating, and pelvic pain.
Infertility is a possible complication of untreated gonorrhea in males.
The infection can cause scarring and damage to the reproductive organs, leading to fertility problems.
In some cases, the infection may spread to the epididymis, testicles, or prostate gland, permanently damaging them and causing infertility.
Can gonorrhea go away on its own in females?
Gonorrhea cannot go away on its own in females.
Without proper treatment, the infection can cause serious complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and an increased risk of HIV infection.