Gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, presents a risk for all those engaged in sexual activity.
There were over 600,000 new cases of gonorrhoea in 2019, ranking the condition second in reported conditions per the CDC. It was most prevalent among sexually active teens, young adults, and African Americans.
Are you wondering what happens if you have gonorrhoea? Continue reading to know the risk factors.
What are the Risk Factors of Gonorrhea?
Engaging in unprotected sexual relations
If a person engages in unprotected sex—vaginal, oral, or anal - with an individual infected with gonorrhoea, they may contract the infection. The risk can escalate if there is condom breakage during intercourse with an infected partner. While gonorrhoea is transmitted through sex, the male partner doesn't need to ejaculate to spread the infection. Infection can occur if the bacteria enter any body opening, such as the vagina, penis, anus, or mouth.Pregnancy
If a woman is pregnant and has gonorrhoea, the condition may pose risks to her pregnancy, and there's a chance of passing the infection to the baby during childbirth. Typically, the infection affects the baby's eyes, lungs, and rectum in such cases.Weakened immune system
If the immune system is compromised and includes a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, there's a higher risk of getting and spreading the infection.
Youngsters at risk
Sexually active people under 25 years of age are more at risk of contracting gonorrhoea, studies have found. This could be from carelessness during sexual activities, such as not using condoms or engaging in unnatural sex.
Conclusion
Ignoring taking care of conditions such as gonorrhoea can lead to serious health problems. Women can be affected with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and men could have painful issues in the tubes connected to their testicles, sometimes leading to infertility. If left untreated, gonorrhoea may become life-threatening by spreading to the blood or joints. Health insurance is essential to ensure prompt access to necessary medical care. An insurance policy can be the difference between life and death, so obtain health insurance to enjoy life to the fullest!