rhizoverbBeta
DictionarygonorrheaSexually transmitted infection
noun

gonorrhea

gah-nuh-REE-uh/ˌɡɑnəˈriə/

A sexually transmitted bacterial infection affecting mucous membranes.

The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can appear in pairs inside immune cells.

A restrained microscopic vignette showing paired, kidney-shaped gonococcal bacteria within a neutrophil, conveying the bacterial infection without depicting intimate anatomy or stigmatizing a patient.
Etymology
gonoGreekseed
+rrheaGreekflow

The name means “seed flow”: discharge caused by the infection was mistaken for semen. It thus preserves an old interpretation of a symptom rather than identifying the bacterial cause.

In context

Level Up RN0:50
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are sexually transmitted bacterial infections that left untreated can result in pelvic inflammatory disease, as well as infertility and preterm labor complications.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Reproductive System - Medical Surgical | @LevelUpRN

More examples

  • A urine test can help diagnose gonorrhea.
  • Doctors treat gonorrhea with antibiotics.
  • People with gonorrhea may have no symptoms.

Forms

gonorrhea

gonococcal adjective — Relating to bacteria that cause gonorrhea.