Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis
Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis
- What are gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis?
- What causes gonorrhea and chlamydia?
- Where do these infections occur?
- At what age do these infections most commonly occur?
- What are the symptoms of gonorrhea and chlamydia?
- How are gonorrhea and chlamydia diagnosed?
- What complications are associated with infection with gonorrhea and chlamydia?
- How is infection with gonorrhea and chlamydia treated?
- What causes syphilis?
- How is syphilis spread?
- What are symptoms of syphilis?
- How is syphilis diagnosed?
- What are complications of syphilis?
- How is syphilis treated?
- Can these diseases be prevented?
- Is screening for these diseases recommended?
- Glossary
What are gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis?
Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). These three STDs can cause serious, long-term problems if they are not treated, especially for teenagers and young women.
What causes gonorrhea and chlamydia?
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia are caused by bacteria. The bacteria are passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Gonorrhea and chlamydia often occur together.
Where do these infections occur?
Gonorrhea and chlamydia infections can occur in the mouth, reproductive organs, urethra, and rectum. In women, the most common place is the cervix (the opening of the uterus).
At what age do these infections most commonly occur?
Although gonorrhea and chlamydia can occur at any age, women 25 years and younger are at greater risk of both infections.
What are the symptoms of gonorrhea and chlamydia?
Women with gonorrhea or chlamydia often have no symptoms. When symptoms from either infection do occur, they may show up 2 days to 3 weeks after infection. They may be very mild and can be mistaken for a urinary tract or vaginal infection. The most common symptoms in women include the following:
- A yellow vaginal discharge
- Painful or frequent urination
- Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods
- Rectal bleeding, discharge, or pain
How are gonorrhea and chlamydia diagnosed?
To find out if you have gonorrhea or chlamydia, your health care provider may take a sample of cells from your throat, cervix, urethra, or rectum where the infection may occur. Gonorrhea and chlamydia also can be detected with a urine test.
What complications are associated with infection with gonorrhea and chlamydia?
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection that occurs when bacteria move from the vagina and cervix upward into the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes (see the FAQ Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). After a woman is infected with gonorrhea or chlamydia and if she does not receive treatment, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before she develops PID.
How is infection with gonorrhea and chlamydia treated?
Gonorrhea and chlamydia are treated with antibiotics.
What causes syphilis?
Syphilis also is caused by bacteria. It differs from gonorrhea and chlamydia because it occurs in stages. It is spread more easily in some stages than in others.
How is syphilis spread?
The bacteria that cause syphilis enter the body through a cut in the skin or through contact with a syphilis sore known as a chancre. Because this sore commonly occurs on the vulva, vagina, anus, or penis, syphilis most often is spread through sexual contact. It also can be spread by touching the rash, warts, or infected blood during the second stage of infection.
What are symptoms of syphilis?
Symptoms of syphilis differ by stage:
- Primary stage – Syphilis first appears as a painless chancre. This sore goes away without treatment in 3–6 weeks.
- Secondary stage – The next stage begins as the chancre is healing or several weeks after the chancre has disappeared, when a rash may appear. The rash usually appears on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Flat warts may be seen on the vulva. During this stage, there may be flu-like symptoms. This stage is highly contagious.
- Latent and late stages – The rash and other symptoms go away in a few weeks or months, but the disease still is present in the body. If untreated, the disease may return in its most serious form years later.
How is syphilis diagnosed?
In the early stages, discharge from open sores is examined to see if syphilis bacteria are present. In later stages, a blood test also can be done to check for antibodies to the bacteria.
What are complications of syphilis?
Late-stage syphilis is a serious illness. Heart problems, neurologic problems, and tumors may occur, leading to brain damage, blindness, paralysis, and even death. The genital sores caused by syphilis also make it easier to become infected with and transmit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
How is syphilis treated?
Syphilis is treated with antibiotics. If it is caught and treated early, long-term problems can be prevented. The length of treatment depends on how long a person has had the disease.
Can these diseases be prevented?
You can take steps to avoid getting gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis. These safeguards also help protect against other STDs:
- Use a condom. Both male and female condoms are sold over-the-counter in drug stores. They help protect against STDs.
- Limit your sexual partners. The more sexual partners you have over a lifetime, the higher your risk of getting STDs.
- Know your partner. Ask about your partner’s sexual history. Ask whether he or she has had STDs. Even if your partner has no symptoms, he or she still may be infected.
- Avoid contact with any sores on the genitals.
Is screening for these diseases recommended? 
Annual screening for gonorrhea and chlamydia is recommended for teenagers and women aged 25 years and younger who are sexually active and for women older than 25 years if they have risk factors. Teenagers and women also should be tested for syphilis if they are at high risk of this STD.
Glossary
Antibiotics: Drugs that treat certain types of infections.
Antibodies: Proteins in the blood produced in reaction to foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses that cause infection.
Cervix: The lower, narrow end of the uterus at the top of the vagina.
Chancre: A sore caused by syphilis and appearing at the place of infection.
Fallopian Tubes: Tubes through which an egg travels from the ovary to the uterus.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): A virus that attacks certain cells of the body’s immune system and causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Ovaries: Two glands, located on either side of the uterus, that contain the eggs released at ovulation and that produce hormones.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): An infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and nearby pelvic structures.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): Diseases that are spread by sexual contact.
Urethra: A tube-like structure through which urine flows from the bladder to the outside of the body.
Uterus: A muscular organ located in the female pelvis that contains and nourishes the developing fetus during pregnancy.
Vulva: The external female genital area.
If you have further questions, contact your obstetrician-gynecologist.
FAQ071: Designed as an aid to patients, this document sets forth current information and opinions related to women’s health. The information does not dictate an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed and should not be construed as excluding other acceptable methods of practice. Variations, taking into account the needs of the individual patient, resources, and limitations unique to the institution or type of practice, may be appropriate.
Copyright September 2013 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). These three STDs can cause serious, long-term problems if they are not treated, especially for teenagers and young women.
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia are caused by bacteria. The bacteria are passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Gonorrhea and chlamydia often occur together.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia infections can occur in the mouth, reproductive organs, urethra, and rectum. In women, the most common place is the cervix (the opening of the uterus).
Although gonorrhea and chlamydia can occur at any age, women 25 years and younger are at greater risk of both infections.
Women with gonorrhea or chlamydia often have no symptoms. When symptoms from either infection do occur, they may show up 2 days to 3 weeks after infection. They may be very mild and can be mistaken for a urinary tract or vaginal infection. The most common symptoms in women include the following:
- A yellow vaginal discharge
- Painful or frequent urination
- Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods
- Rectal bleeding, discharge, or pain
To find out if you have gonorrhea or chlamydia, your health care provider may take a sample of cells from your throat, cervix, urethra, or rectum where the infection may occur. Gonorrhea and chlamydia also can be detected with a urine test.
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection that occurs when bacteria move from the vagina and cervix upward into the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes (see the FAQ Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). After a woman is infected with gonorrhea or chlamydia and if she does not receive treatment, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before she develops PID.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia are treated with antibiotics.
You can take steps to avoid getting gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis. These safeguards also help protect against other STDs:
- Use a condom. Both male and female condoms are sold over-the-counter in drug stores. They help protect against STDs.
- Limit your sexual partners. The more sexual partners you have over a lifetime, the higher your risk of getting STDs.
- Know your partner. Ask about your partner’s sexual history. Ask whether he or she has had STDs. Even if your partner has no symptoms, he or she still may be infected.
- Avoid contact with any sores on the genitals.
Annual screening for gonorrhea and chlamydia is recommended for teenagers and women aged 25 years and younger who are sexually active and for women older than 25 years if they have risk factors. Teenagers and women also should be tested for syphilis if they are at high risk of this STD.
Safer sex is a way to help you avoid an infection spread through sex. It can also help prevent pregnancy. It may seems strange or uncomfortable to talk about sex. But the more you know, the safer you are. And the actions you take before sex can help keep you from getting an infection like herpes or a deadly infection like HIV.
You can get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from any kind of sexual contact, not just intercourse. STIs are spread through skin-to-skin contact between the genitals. You can also get an STI from contact with body fluids such as semen, vaginal fluids, and blood (including menstrual blood). This means you can get an STI from vaginal sex, anal sex, or oral sex.
You may have heard this before, but not having sex at all is still the best way to prevent pregnancy and any STI.
A condom is one of the best ways to lower your chance of STIs. You may know about condoms for men. Did you know there are condoms for women too? The female condom is a tube of soft plastic with a closed end that is put deep into the vagina.
- Use condoms or female condoms each time and every time you have sex.
- Condoms come in several sizes. Make sure you use the right size. A condom that is too small can break easily. A condom that is too big can slip off during sex. Use a new condom each time you have sex.
- Be careful not to poke a hole in the condom when you open the wrapper.
- Never use petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline), grease, hand lotion, baby oil, or anything with oil in it. These products can make holes in the condom.
- After sex, hold the condom on your penis as you remove your penis from your partner. This will keep semen from spilling out of the condom.
- Do not use a female condom and male condom at the same time.
- Do not have sex with anyone who has symptoms of an STI, such as sores on the genitals or mouth. The herpes virus that causes cold sores can spread to and from the penis and vagina.
- Think about getting shots to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B, if you haven’t already had these shots. You can get both of these diseases through sex.
A dental dam is a special rubber sheet that you can use for protection during oral sex.
Remember that birth control methods such as diaphragms, IUDs, foams, and birth control pills do not stop you from getting STIs.
These are some safer sex things you can do to help avoid pregnancy:
- Use some type of birth control every time you have sex.
- Don’t drink a lot of alcohol or use drugs before sex. This can cause you to let down your guard. And then you’re not thinking clearly about safer sex.
- Talk to your partner before you have sex. Find out if he or she has or is at risk for any STI. Keep in mind that a person may be able to spread an STI even if he or she does not have symptoms. You and your partner may want to get an HIV test. You should get tested again 6 months later.
- You should never feel pressured to have sex. It’s okay to say “no” anytime you want to stop.
- It’s important to feel safe with your sex partner and with the activities you are doing together. If you don’t feel safe, talk with an adult you trust.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
- You can put in a female condom up to 8 hours before sex.
- Squeeze the smaller ring at the closed end and insert it deep into the vagina. The larger ring at the open end should stay outside the vagina.
- During sex, make sure the penis goes into the condom.
- After the penis is removed, close the open end of the condom by twisting it. Remove the condom.
No, you should not use a female condom and male condom at the same time.
The male and female condoms should not be used at the same time because friction can break them, make them stick together, or make one or the other slip out of place during intercourse.
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[…] Though teen and young adults most commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases, anyone that is sexually active is at risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases. The risk increases manifold if there is sex without the use of condoms if there is sexual activity with multiple partners or someone that has multiple partners. Get more of your STD-related questions answered with this FAQ article on Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis […]