Untreated gonorrhea/chlamydia

[Tommy420]

I have a couple of questions concerning gonorrhea/chlamydia.

1) Dr. HHH has, on numerous occasions, stated that even if gonorrhea isn't treated with antibiotics, it will go away on its own most of the time. Is this true?

2) How reliable is a culture test for gonorrhea? Is it possible to have a false positive with this test or rare?

3) Will a 250mg IV shot of Ceftriaxone and 1000mg of zithromax cure gonorrhea and chlamydia 100% of the time? Is there usually a need for a reteset after treatment? (my doc said no need for retest even though I said I still felt symtpoms...but they're gone now)

4) Will the antibiotics I took also kill syphilis bacteria as Dr. HHH has stated on numerous occassions (if I did have syphilis)

5) If a girl gets anal gonorrhea, will a urine test show positive for gonorrhea?

Thank you!

[moe21100]

Hi Tommy,

1) I'm no expert but here is my take... from the information that I have gathered on WebMD, gonorrhea will NOT go away without treatment. Since it is a bacterial infection, antibiotics that your doctor can give you should clear up the infection. If you do not take the antibiotics specifically as directed, the infection may not be cured. This is the same for chlamydia infections as well. Do not ignore your diagnosis, doing so will only compromise your health! The earlier the infection is treated, the better and it should not cause long-term complications if you get treated now. Not treating the infection can lead to infertility, inflammation of the prostate gland and you will also put future sexual partners at risk! are you sure Dr. H said the infection will clear on it's own without treatment?

2) I'm not sure how reliable the tests are, but it wouldn't hurt to retest if you don't trust the first one. Just don't ignore it and hope it will go away.

3) From this it sounds like you were treated... If you were treated, and you are still uneasy, why not get retested to ease your mind, especially if you still experience symptoms; and remember, not every infected person has symptoms. I think the treatment you described is the common cure for these diseases, but nothing is ever 100%. I recently read a CDC report that talked about a new strain of gonorrhea that is resistent to certain antibiotics. Personally, I would have a follow-up test to be sure the treatment was successful.

4) Penicillin is the #1 treatment for syphilis and for those allergic to penicillin, tetracycline or doxycycline can be given instead. I'm not sure if the medicines you listed will cure syphilis, check with your own doctor. Syphilis is easier to cure within the first year of infection so don't wait too long to get checked specifically for this.

5) This one is a little tricky... normally a doctor will ask about your sex habits before performing tests. I'm thinking a culture may have to be taken from the anus to determine this.

I hoped my answers were somewhat helpful...

[barn babe]

Moe21100, very informative responses. You're on fire tonight. :)

[moe21100]

Thanks BarnBabe! I'm trying my best to give good advice. I was wondering what your take would be. I appreciate the feedback. :P

[barn babe]

Oh, Moe, I'm not up on chlamydia or the other bacterials, nor HPV. My thing is herpes, and I'm up on the general sexual behavior stuff that Dr. Handsfield reiterates so often.  But I'm trying to get educated on the other stuff so I can contribute more. I feel I don't make as much of an impact as the others here. :(

I just found the "Relationship" forum and trying to work my chops over there, too. I know about HIV, too, so I might go over there and see what's going on as well.  

I find these forums very relaxing, for some reason!  It's fun to try and help people. I have herpes myself, and I guess I wish I'd known about forums like this when I contracted it, but I didn't. This is a very comforting and non-judgmental haven. :)

Decreasing the stigma, one post at a  time! :-)

[Tommy420]

This is the link where Dr. HHH talks about how gonorrhea and chlamydia go away on their own WITHOUT TREATMENT! It certainly makes me question his advice!

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/STD/messages/2433.html

[moe21100]

To Tommy: Thanks for the link the Dr. H's comments. I must say that I am shocked! I read it several times hoping that I was interpreting it wrong. Do yourself a favor and go on WedMD to do a little more reading on these infections and please discuss this with your personal doctor. Everything will be OK for you if you follow your own doctor's advice. :)

To Barn Babe: I too find it realxing to try and help people. I am certainly not proclaiming to be an expert, but I have done my share of research with reputable sources. Having been in the same position as many of the people in this forum, with worry and anxiety, I thought I could share the info I found to help put some minds at ease. Thanks for sharing your story, see you around the forum. :)

[monkeyflower]

Oh for god's sake. Of course it clears up on its own. Back before antibiotics, do you really think that everyone who caught a bacterial infection kept it until the day they died? Even today, do you really think that people who either don't know they have a bacterial infection, or don't have antibiotics available, are gonna DIE with it? Hardly.

There are reasons why treatment is important--particularly for women, because if left untreated, it *could* turn into PID and possibly lead to infertility.

[moe21100]

Regardless, it is wise to seek medical treatment for such an infection. Why take a risk and gamble with your health and that of others? And while it may clear up on its own for SOME people, this certainly is not the case for all. Not treating your gonorrhea/chlamydia HOPING that you are one of the lucky few who is able to clear it because it is bacteria would be like ignoring a bacterial staph infection. Unwise, plain and simple. Do not ignore it. A female friend of mine unknowingly had this and it did not clear up on its own. She got pregnant when she was infected and her baby was stillborn. Her Ob said it was a result of the gonorrhea infection during pregnancy. I know this is an extreme case, but I think it should be taken more seriously.