My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group

Symptoms and Diagnosis

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If you become infected with gonorrhea, you may develop symptoms several days after you have sex with an infected partner. Symptoms of a genital gonorrhea infection include:

• Discharge from the penis or vagina
• Pelvic pain
• Irregular bleeding or spotting (in women) 
• Pain with urination

A sore throat can be a symptom of oral gonorrhea infection. Rectal pain, itching, or discharge can be symptoms of anal gonorrhea. However, some people do not develop any symptoms, so you may have gonorrhea and not know it.

In men, symptoms are usually obvious enough that they will cause a man to seek medical attention before complications occur. In women, the early symptoms are sometimes so mild that they are mistaken for a bladder infection or vaginal infection.

If you are experiencing these symptoms or if you are concerned, contact us. If you come in for an appointment, we may:

• Review your medical history and risk factors.
• Do a pelvic exam.
• Test the discharge from the vagina or penis for gonorrhea.
• Take a urine sample to check for gonorrhea.

Causes and Prevention

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Like many other STDs, gonorrhea is spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You can prevent gonorrheal infection by avoiding contact with an infected or high-risk partner and using latex condoms.

Talk with your partner

Talk openly and honestly with your partner about your risk for STDs and the importance of safe sex. Remember that a person can be infected with an STD without knowing it. Be clear about what you will and will not do sexually, and respect what your partner will and will not do. Decide together what is right for both of you.

Protect Yourself With Condoms

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The only certain way to prevent getting an STD is to abstain from sex. If you do choose to have sex, using condoms correctly and consistently is the best way you can protect yourself.

• Condoms can protect you from pregnancy and many STDs, even HIV.
• Most drugstores and supermarkets carry condoms.
• Condoms must be used before the start of any sexual contact to be effective in preventing pregnancy and STDs.

Find Help if Your Partner Has Ever Hurt or Threatened You

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Unfortunately, abusive relationships are common. Abuse can include pressuring or forcing you to have sex, or refusing to use a condom to protect against pregnancy or STDs. If you think you are being abused, you can get help by talking to us or you can:

• Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 for hearing/speech impaired.
• Visit the National Sexual Assault Hotline or call 1-800-656-4673.

Risk Factors

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If you have gonorrhea, it is important to be treated. Remember, not all people with gonorrhea have symptoms. The good news is that, once diagnosed, gonorrhea is usually easily cured.

If you do not get treated, gonorrhea can spread into the blood and cause joint pain, skin sores, or heart damage. You can also give gonorrhea to others if you are infected.

If you are an infected woman:

• Gonorrhea can spread into your uterus and fallopian tubes.
• You could get pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to infertility, severe pelvic pain, and dangerous ectopic pregnancies.

Gonorrhea and Pregnancy

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If you are pregnant and you have gonorrhea, you are at a higher risk for:

• A possible miscarriage.
• Preterm labor. You may be given drugs to prevent premature birth, which could require a stay in the hospital.
• Early rupture of membranes before your labor contractions start. The amniotic sac breaks open, causing amniotic fluid to gush out, or less commonly, to slowly leak.
• Premature delivery. A premature infant has an increased risk of health problems.
• Infection of the lining of the uterus, or endometritis.

If you have gonorrhea when you give birth, your newborn can be infected. You can pass the bacteria to your baby during birth. This could cause an infection in your baby's eyes, joints, or skin. Antibiotics can be an effective treatment, but it is best if you are treated before you give birth.

Treatments

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Gonorrhea can be cured with several different antibiotics. If you are given pills, it is very important to take all of them. If you do not take all the pills, the symptoms may go away, but you may still have the infection.

• Tell your sexual partner if you find out you have gonorrhea. It is very important that they get treated right away, too.
• Do not have sex until both you and your partner have finished treatment. You can be re-infected with gonorrhea if your partner has not been treated or has not finished being treated. 

Your Care with Me

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If you are worried about being exposed to a sexually transmitted disease (STD) like gonorrhea and:

• You are experiencing symptoms like pain, itching, bleeding, or unusual vaginal discharge, I recommend you make an appointment to see me. We can decide how best to treat your symptoms and discuss ways to protect you from STDs in the future.
• You do not have any symptoms, please e-mail me or call the Appointment and Advice line to request testing. Once we order those tests, you can have blood and urine testing in our lab for STDs without having to come in for a full appointment.

It is important to be tested for STDs, even if you do not think you are at risk.

• If you are under 25 years old, I recommend that you be tested for STDs every year.
• Everyone should be tested for HIV at least once in a lifetime. Even if you think you are not at risk, it is important to be sure.

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Contacting Me

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You can connect with me in a variety of ways, depending on the situation and what is most convenient for you at the time. I am available online, by telephone, or in person.

• For nonurgent questions or concerns, you can e-mail me using this site. You can also book an appointment online to see me in person.
• If your concerns are immediate, or you simply prefer to use the telephone, please call our Appointment and Advice line, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our advice nurses can give you immediate advice, and our telephone staff can send me a message or book an appointment for you. 

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How We Coordinate Your Care

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Having all of our Kaiser Permanente departments located together or nearby, including pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, and health education, makes getting your care easier for you.

Another major benefit is our comprehensive electronic medical record system, which allows all of the doctors and clinicians involved in your care to stay current on your health status and to collaborate with each other as appropriate.

When every member of the health care team is aware of all aspects of your condition, care is safer and more effective.

If you come to an office visit

• At the beginning of your visit, you will receive information about when you are due for your next test, screening, or immunization. We can discuss and schedule any preventive tests that you need. 
• At the end of your visit, you may receive a document called the “After Visit Summary” that will summarize the issues we discussed during your visit. You can refer to it if you forget what we discussed, or if you just want to recheck your vital signs and weight. You can also view it online under Past Visits.
• To help you prepare for your visit, please see additional details under Office Visit. 

If I prescribe medications

We will work together to monitor and assess how your medications are working and make adjustments as needed. Prescriptions can be filled at any Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. Just let me know which pharmacy works best for you, and I will send the prescription electronically in advance of your arrival at the pharmacy.

If refills are needed in the future, you can:

• Order them online or by phone. Order future refills from my home page or by phone using the pharmacy refill number on your prescription label.
• Have them delivered to you by mail at no extra cost. Or you can pick up your medications at the pharmacy. If no refills remain when you place your order, the pharmacy will contact me regarding your prescription.

If lab testing or imaging is needed

For lab tests, I will use our electronic medical record system to send the requisition to the Kaiser Permanente laboratory of your choice. For imaging procedures, we will schedule an appointment with the radiology department. When the results are ready, I will contact you with your results by letter, secure e-mail message, or phone. In addition, you can view most of your laboratory results online, along with any comments that I have attached to explain them.

If I refer you to a specialist

My specialty colleagues are readily available to assist me if I need additional advice about your condition. In some cases, I may contact them during your visit, so we can discuss your care together. If we decide you need a specialty appointment after that discussion, we can often schedule it the same day or soon thereafter.

If you are due for preventive screenings or tests

As part of our commitment to prevention, additional members of our health care team may contact you to come in for a visit or test. We will contact you if you are overdue for cancer screenings or conditions which may require monitoring.

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Convenient Resources for You

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As your personal physician, I have a goal to provide high-quality care and to offer you choices that make your health care convenient. I recommend that you become familiar with the many resources we offer so that you can choose the services that work best for you.

My Doctor Online is available 24/7 so that you can access and manage your care where and when it is most convenient. From my home page you can:

Manage your care securely

• View and compose secure e-mail messages.
• Manage your prescriptions and schedule appointments.
• View your past visits and test results.
• View your Preventive Services to see whether you are due for a routine screening or updated immunization.

Learn more about your condition

• Read about causes, symptoms, treatments, and procedures.
• Find interactive health tools, videos, and podcasts to help you manage your condition.
• View programs to help you decide on or prepare for a surgery or procedure.

Stay healthy

• Locate health education classes and support groups offered at our medical center.
• Explore interactive programs, videos, and podcasts that focus on helping you stay healthy.
• View your Preventive Services to see whether you are due for a routine screening or updated immunization.

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