April 21, 2011 | Health Matters

Gonorrhea may soon be incurable

Researchers fear we may soon be faced with a form of gonorrhea that cannot be cured.  

In 2009, almost 1 in 4 strains tested in a nationwide surveillance project of gonorrhea were resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, fluoroquinolones, or a combination of these antibiotics. And data from 2010 indicates that a growing resistance to another type of antibiotic, cephalosporin, is emerging. 

"This may be the harbinger of things to come," Dr. Kimberly Workowski, of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said. "The resistance may be getting worse."

Were gonorrhea to develop into a superbug, people could face untreatable discomfort, infertility, or, in some cases, death. 

The CDC estimates that more than 700,000 people become infected with the disease each year in the United States. It accounts for the number one STD in gay men, although it can often go undiagnosed.

The best way to avoid catching it is through consistent use of condoms for both oral and anal sex. Some reports say that peeing after sex can help flush out bacteria from the urethra, but there is no hard evidence to support this idea.

You can read more about the disease and its symptoms here. You can also read an older article about making condoms fun here.

Is Sexually Transmitted Gonorrhea Becoming a 'Superbug?' [Live Science]