Antibiotic resistance is when a bacteria develops the ability to fight or protect itself against these medications.
Gonorrhea has developed resistance to all but one class of antibiotics designed to treat it. Half of all gonorrhea infections are resistant to at least one antibiotic.
Antibiotics that are no longer recommended for the treatment of gonorrhea include penicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and cefixime.
In a surveillance conducted by the World Health Organization, gonorrhea has also shown increasing resistance to azithromycin.
Things to remember during treatment
Even if you have been treated for gonorrhea, and the symptoms have subsided, it does not mean that you are immune. A person cannot develop resistance against gonorrhea. Make sure to practice safe sex even after treatment.
When getting treated for gonorrhea:
- Avoid sexual contact
- Wait for seven days after the treatment before engaging in sex again
- Get tested again in 3 months to make sure that gonorrhea is no longer in your system
- Use dental dams and condoms when having oral and penetrative sex until you get tested again for gonorrhea to confirm that it is no longer in the system
- If symptoms do not go away after treatment, visit your doctor for further assessment
Key Takeaway
There is only one sure way to treat gonorrhea and that is through antibiotic treatment. Gonorrhea is treated with a combination of antibiotic drugs. However, gonorrhea has developed resistance to several antibiotics. Consult your doctor and strictly follow the prescribed regimen.
Learn more about gonorrhea here.