How to Cope with Gonorrhea

Given that gonorrhea is one of the world's most common sexually transmitted diseases, most communities have resources that help infected people cope with their situation. While the disease is generally curable through aggressive antibiotic treatment, its complications may linger, making coping more challenging.

Things You'll Need

• Physician

Instructions

1. Get medical treatment. In the Western world, gonorrhea is usually treated with antibiotics. When the disease is promptly detected and treated, patients enjoy a high recovery rate. Act fast and you'll be able to resume your normal life before you know it.

2. Speak to your doctor or sexual health professional about any support groups in your community. People often cope best in groups. Many communities will have support services in place for people suffering from gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases. Relating to others who have shared your difficult experience can be an important part of the healing process.

3. Get individual counseling. While gonorrhea that is promptly found and swiftly treated will generally not be an experience traumatic enough to require therapy, the disease's complications can be unsettling. If you need to speak to someone about your feelings and aren't comfortable in a group setting, one-on-one counseling with a mental or sexual health professional can help.

4. Communicate with your friends and family to whatever degree you feel comfortable. Many people are embarrassed that they have contracted gonorrhea, and so they choose to maintain a wall of silence and suffer alone. This isn't necessary, especially if it isolates you and magnifies your suffering. However, what you choose to reveal to others is your personal choice. Your medical history is private and confidential information that you are under no obligation to divulge to friends, family or employers.

5. Talk to your partner. Sexual partners have a right to know if you are infected with gonorrhea. If you are involved in a committed relationship, your partner should be tested for gonorrhea immediately if you have been infected with it. Maintaining a wall of silence isn't fair to anyone you may have unwittingly infected with gonorrhea before you knew you had it. Help prevent the disease's spread by being conscientious about respecting other people's right to sexual health.

Tips & Warnings

• If untreated, gonorrhea can lead to other serious medical conditions in both men and women. While rare, the disease may even cause death. You should be screened regularly for all sexually transmitted diseases if you are sexually active, whether you exhibit any symptoms or not. As with many diseases, early detection is crucial to effective and curative treatment.