During prenatal care, it is common for many women to report vulvovaginitis and sexually transmitted diseases, which are infectious diseases that affect the female genital area. One of the most common is gonorrhea. Learn how to identify and treat this disease during pregnancy.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by an infection with the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and is characterized by a heavy presence of pus in the affected area. The bacterium can infect any mucosa through skin-to-skin contact: mainly in the genital organs, but also in the throat, eyes, or joints.

The main way women become infected is through vaginal, oral, and anal sex without a condom, or by using contaminated objects during intercourse. If a woman’s partner is infected and passes the disease to her, both must be treated at the same time and avoid sexual relations until they are cured.

Even after the disease has been treated, a woman can get re-infected if she comes into contact again with someone infected with the bacterium responsible for the disease.

Signs of Gonorrhea

The symptoms of gonorrhea can vary depending on the area that is infected. In the most common cases, where the infection is in the vagina, cervix, or urethra, the most frequent symptoms are purulent discharge, burning, and pain when urinating, bleeding, and pain during sex. If the infection is anal, one is more likely to feel itching in the area and pain during bowel movements.

However, often gonorrhea causes no symptoms in women for some weeks or months, especially if the infection is located in the cervix.

Main Symptoms

When symptoms appear, the most frequent are:

  • Burning when urinating
  • Frequent need to urinate
  • Itching and burning in the vagina
  • Vaginal discharge with pus
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Sore throat (when the infection is in the throat)
  • Pain and bleeding during sexual intercourse
  • Fever and general malaise (when the infection progresses and reaches the fallopian tubes and ovaries)
  • Vaginal bleeding outside menstruation

Effects of Gonorrhea in Pregnancy and Labor

Women who suffer from gonorrhea during pregnancy may experience certain consequences. The rate of miscarriage in patients with gonorrhea is higher. There is also a risk of infection of the amniotic fluid (transmitting the disease to the baby), preterm labor, and “premature rupture of membranes” (when the water sac, filled with amniotic fluid, breaks). However, by seeking a doctor and the appropriate treatment, the risk of these problems arising is reduced.

If gonorrhea is not treated by the time of delivery, the mother may pass the bacterium to the baby. In these cases, an external infection may occur, known as gonococcal conjunctivitis, especially in babies born by normal delivery, since the baby passes through the vagina where the infected secretions are present, greatly increasing the chance of infection.

If treatment is not carried out properly or diagnosis is very late, serious complications may even arise in the woman, such as infertility.

Is Gonorrhea Curable?

Yes! To treat gonorrhea during pregnancy, doctors prescribe antibiotics for the pregnant woman to take over a period of time that may vary according to the type and severity of the infection. Generally, if the infection is detected early in pregnancy and the affected area has not progressed beyond the genital region, the most common treatment is just a single dose of antibiotics, with no risk to the baby.

Since gonorrhea can cause complications to the health of both mother and baby, it is important to strictly follow the treatment plan and ensure the partner is treated as well. Couples in this situation must avoid sexual intercourse while the infection is not cured, and adopt the use of condoms throughout pregnancy.

Medications for Gonorrhea Treatment

Some antibiotic options for gonorrhea are as follows:

  • Penicillin;
  • Ofloxacin;
  • Granulated thiamphenicol;
  • Ciprofloxacin;
  • Intramuscular ceftriaxone;
  • Cefotaxime;
  • Spectinomycin.

IMPORTANT: Do not use antibiotics on your own. Consult your doctor and only purchase medication at authorized pharmacies with a retained prescription.

To complement the medicinal treatment for gonorrhea, a natural remedy is to drink cardo santo tea enriched with copaiba oil. This is because both cardo santo and copaiba have natural antibiotic properties, helping to combat bacterial infections such as gonorrhea. Jaborandi tea is another good treatment tip.

Another thing that can help is to eat fewer processed foods, drink plenty of liquids, and eat natural foods that are diuretic and blood-purifying. Avoid condiments and other foods that may cause irritation, like cow’s milk, which is very important to avoid pain in the urethra during urination, for example.

Gonorrhea – Facts and Prevention

To avoid contracting gonorrhea during pregnancy, it is very important for expectant mothers to practice safe sexual relations during pregnancy, using barrier methods such as condoms with their sexual partners. Using this method not only helps prevent gonorrhea in pregnancy but also numerous other sexually transmitted diseases that pose risks during pregnancy.

The risk of transmission of gonorrhea bacteria infection is over 90%, and the fact that some women are asymptomatic does not decrease the risks during pregnancy. Even if men are asymptomatic, their disease can still be transmitted to female partners and both should be equally treated.

Extra care should also be taken by women who use intrauterine devices (IUDs), as there is a risk of silent infections and the spread of asymptomatic gonorrhea to the fallopian tubes and ovaries.

See Also: Cervical Infection – How to Detect?
Photo: JenniferBayers