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Sexually Transmitted Disease, Gonorrhea

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Gonorrhea is one of many highly contagious sexually transmitted infections caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a gram-negative intracellular diplococcus. These infectious bacteria can spread through sexual contact and intercourse, as well as transmission during childbirth from mother to fetus. This specific bacterium likes to grow in warm, moist areas of the body. They can multiply very fast and infect the mucous membranes. Gonorrhea is said to infect an approximate 820,000 people in the United States annually. This genus is motile and can stick to surfaces and make it easy to contract. This bacterium contains Opa proteins. Opa proteins in this genus bind to receptors in the immune system. This action makes it possible to prevent an immune response. The infection, N. gonorrhea is not able to develop memory cells against its own kind, meaning it can alter the bodies response the next time around as it was never treated or infected. This later makes it possible to infect the same person.
Gonorrhea can be caught through sexual contact and intercourse. Some forms of transmission are vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, as well as oral intercourse and can sometimes infect the eyes. Not everyone experiences signs and symptoms of gonorrhea, when infected or during the course of infection, therefore making the chances of one knowing you have been infected rather difficult. This can potentially lead to more serious effects such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory

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