Laboratory analysis of a swab taken from a potentially infected area (throat, urethra, or vagina, for example) or a urine sample is the basis of gonorrhea diagnosis. Bigmanlab also has kits you can use to self-test at home if you prefer to treat yourself or can't see a doctor.
It is important to see a health professional If you suspect that the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae that causes gonorrhea has infected you. You should get tested even if you feel fine given that this sexually transmitted infection often does not cause symptoms.
Gonorrhea risk factors that affect gonorrhea screening frequency
- Use of illegal drugs
- Many sexual partners
- New sexual partners in two months
- Inconsistent use of condoms.
- Trading sex for drugs or money.
- Having sex with prostitutes
- Being child detention center or correction facility.
- Meet anonymous internet partners
- A recent sexual partner undergoing treatment for a sexually transmitted disease or having had a sexually transmitted disease in the past.
Gonorrhea test objectives
Detecting gonorrhea infection is the main purpose of the gonorrhea testing. Gonorrhea tests are performed in two types of situations:
Screening:
Gonorrhea screening tests is done when you’re not having any symptoms to look for the infection. Doctors can also screen for other STDs while the screen for gonorrhea at the same time.
Diagnosis:
Many may have signs such as burning when you urinate and pain, though not all people experience symptoms. To rule out gonorrhea as the cause of your symptoms, you can do a gonorrhea test. Doctors often test gonorrhea and chlamydia together since chlamydia have symptoms similar to gonorrhea, another familiar STD.
Who should get tested for gonorrhea?
You should be tested if:
- You or your partner had sex with other people without protection.
- You think you have gonorrhea symptoms.
- You’re told by your sexual partner that he/she has STI.
- You have sex with a new partner without protection.
- You’ve any other sexually transmissible infection.
- Plan to become pregnant or are pregnant.
- Your health care provider tells you during a vaginal exam, that your cervical cells have fluid in them or are swollen.
What about risks associated with gonorrhea testing?
No known gonorrhea testing risks have been recorded so far. During the cervical smear test, women may experience mild discomfort. Subsequently, they may experience virginal discharges like light bleeding.
What about where I should do gonorrhea test?
You can get tested for gonorrhea at the well-equipped bigmanlab located in Yaoundé Cameroon. You can equally do the gonorrhea test at home by yourself when you buy a gonorrhea test at a drug store. However, since these tests differ in their accuracy, we recommended to contact bigmanlab service for proper gonorrhea diagnostic testing.
What about the types gonorrhea testing?
The evidence of the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection is detected by a gonorrhea test. There’re many gonorrhea tests types:
Gonococcal culture:
Gonorrhea bacteria from swabs taken from a potential source of infection are grown by culture. The only test that shows the susceptibility of an infection to antibiotics is cultures. If your healthcare provider suspects you have a gonorrhea antibiotic-resistant strain he may order a gonococcal culture.
Gram stain test:
Used to look under a microscope for specific cell types that characterize a gonorrhea infection. Mainly used in men with urinary tract problems, the test is done using a urethral swab.
Gonorrhea Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests:
Considered the test of choice for gonorrhea infection and detects the genetic material of the gonorrhea bacterium. A swab taken from a potential site of infection or a urine sample can be used to perform this kind of test.
Rapid Gonorrhea Tests:
Several tests are being developed to allow doctors to provide same-day results even though rapid gonorrhea tests are not common.
What about gonorrhea test results?
Test results can be positive, also known as abnormal or called negative, equally known as normal. Sometimes called an abnormal result, positive result entails that you have an active gonorrhea infection that needs treatment. Your sexual partners should also be tested if you test positive for gonorrhea, and treated.
Normal/Negative:
No evidence of infection at the time of testing defines a negative test result. It can take days or weeks depending on the type of test, for a person infected with gonorrhea bacteria to test positive. For this reason, if the test is performed too soon after possible exposure, a negative result does not rule out infection with gonorrhea.
Abnormal/Positive:
This indicates that you have gonorrhea. Antibiotics to cure the infection can be used for treatment. Be sure to take as many doses as needed. Infection should stop with antibiotic treatment, but some types of gonorrhea bacteria become antibiotics resistant (less ineffective or effective).
Your doctor may order a "sensitivity test", if your symptoms do not improve after treatment.
At bigmanlab, to determine which antibiotic will be most effective in treating the infection we use a susceptibility test.
Ensure that you tell your sexual partners if you test positive for gonorrhea, regardless of treatment. In this way, they too can be immediately tested and cured. Consult your doctor if you have any doubts about the results.
What about Gonorrhea treatment?
Treatment of gonorrhea in adults:
Antibiotics can be used to treat gonorrhea in adults. Our health specialist recommends treating uncomplicated gonorrhea with oral azithromycin or injectable antibiotic ceftriaxone as a result the emergence of strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae that are drug-resistant, with oral azithromycin (Zithromax).
You may be given oral azithromycin or injected gentamicin and oral gemifloxacin if you are allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics for example ceftriaxone
Treatment of gonorrhea for partners:
Even if your partner have no symptoms or signs, they should also be tested and treated for gonorrhea. Same treatment as you should be given to your partner. An untreated partner can catch gonorrhea again, even if you have been treated.
Treatment of gonorrhea for babies:
Antibiotics can be used to treat babies that are born to gonorrhea infected mothers.
A message from bigmanlab about the way forward:
Until you see your doctor for diagnosis, refrain from having sex. Tell your sexual partners about your symptoms or signs so they can schedule a visit to a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
