Gonorrhea: Is kissing a risk factor?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted an infection or STI that may be transmitted by way of vaginal or anal intercourse with an contaminated particular person. In case you are affected, you might not present any indicators or you may expertise painful urination and irregular vaginal discharge. Seems, the bacterium that causes this an infection can survive in varied heat, and moist areas of the physique. So, it isn’t simply the reproductive tract that may be focused, but additionally the mouth and throat. Whereas unprotected sexual activity is a threat issue, is kissing additionally a threat issue of gonorrhea? Let’s discover out.

What’s gonorrhea?

It’s an an infection attributable to the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and principally impacts the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract. “However it will possibly additionally infect different areas, together with the throat and rectum,” says gynaecologist Dr Sriprada Vinekar. It’s transmitted by way of direct contact with contaminated bodily fluids, sometimes throughout sexual exercise. Listed below are some modes of transmission:

• Having vaginal intercourse with an contaminated particular person.
• Participating in anal intercourse can facilitate the unfold of this sexually transmitted an infection.
• Performing oral intercourse on an contaminated accomplice can result in oral gonorrhea, which impacts the throat.
• An contaminated pregnant girl can move this STI to their child throughout childbirth.

What are the signs of gonorrhea?

“Some individuals could not expertise any signs of this an infection in any respect, particularly within the early phases of the sexually transmitted an infection,” says the knowledgeable. However a number of the signs related to gonorrhea in ladies embody:

• Painful or having a burning sensation whereas urinating.
• A change within the quantity or color of vaginal discharge.
• Recognizing or bleeding even in case you are not menstruating.
• Ache within the decrease stomach, which can be accompanied by discomfort throughout intercourse.
• Swelling across the vagina or pelvis.
• In case of oral gonorrhea, you might have ache and discomfort whereas swallowing, white patches or lesions within the throat, and swollen lymph nodes.

Are you able to get gonorrhea from kissing?

“If there are energetic infections within the throat, kissing might transmit the micro organism, significantly if there the contaminated particular person has cuts or sores,” says Dr Vinekar. Deep kissing, which entails trade of saliva, could result in gonorrhoea, as per analysis revealed in The Lancet Infectious Illnesses in 2019. One other analysis revealed within the Sexually Transmitted Illnesses journal in 2023 discovered that tongue kissing could also be a threat issue for oral gonorrhea.

This STI can infect the throat, resulting in a situation often called pharyngeal or oral gonorrhea. “This often happens when the Neisseria gonorrhoeae micro organism enter the throat, sometimes by way of oral intercourse with an contaminated accomplice,” says the knowledgeable. But when an individual has an energetic an infection of their throat, they will doubtlessly unfold the micro organism by way of kissing. The micro organism could also be current in saliva or on the floor of the mucous membranes within the mouth and throat.

“Whereas it’s attainable to contract this STI by way of kissing, the danger is usually decrease than by way of different types of sexual exercise, comparable to vaginal or anal intercourse,” says the knowledgeable. The focus of micro organism is usually greater in genital fluids in comparison with saliva.

Can sharing meals trigger gonorrhea?

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is primarily unfold by way of sexual contact with contaminated mucous membranes. “So, sharing meals, ingesting from the identical straw, or utilizing the identical utensils is taken into account a low-risk exercise for transmitting it,” says the knowledgeable. Additionally it is not unfold by hugging, utilizing rest room seats or sharing towels, cups or cutlery with an contaminated particular person. That’s as a result of the micro organism liable for this an infection can’t survive outdoors the human physique for lengthy, in response to the UK Nationwide Well being Service.

The best way to cut back the danger for oral transmission?

• Use condoms or dental dams throughout oral intercourse to scale back contact with contaminated bodily fluids.
• Common STI testing for sexually energetic individuals, particularly these with a number of companions, may also help establish and deal with infections early.
• Not having a number of sexual companions can lower the danger of publicity to STIs.
• Discuss to your sexual accomplice about STIs in addition to testing historical past.

The best way to deal with it?

When you suspect you’ve got this an infection or have been uncovered to it by way of kissing or some other means, attain out to your physician. This STI is treatable with antibiotics, sometimes a twin remedy method, which can embody –

• Ceftriaxone: An injection or oral medicine.
• Azithromycin: Often taken as a single dose.

Antiseptic mouthwash may additionally assist in case of oral gonorrhea. Throughout a 2016 examine revealed within the Sexually Transmitted Infections journal, researchers discovered that antiseptic mouthwash considerably decreased the quantity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae on the pharyngeal (throat) floor.

Gonorrhea from kissing shouldn’t be the most typical manner of the an infection getting transmitted, however it’s attainable. When you get affected, full the total course of your remedy and take a look at to not have interaction in sexual exercise till cleared by physician to forestall spreading the an infection.