Amoxicillin For Std Treatment: Does It Work
Amoxicillin is one of the first drugs people think of when they learn that they have contracted a sexually transmitted infection or disease. Many common web searches show that people searching for chlamydia treatments or information on how to treat gonorrhea at home are curious about this as a potential treatment.
At myLAB Box, we understand and appreciate our customers concerns. So we want to address the question: will amoxicillin cure gonorrhea or chlamydia? Lets take a closer look.
Oral Gonorrhea Vs Strep Throat
Whenever someone has a sore throat, the first question often asked is, Is it strep?. It can be hard to differentiate oropharyngeal gonorrhea and strep throat without lab testing. Although most people with oral gonorrhea dont have symptoms, the most common symptoms when symptoms are present include:
- Throat soreness or redness
- Fever
These symptoms are similar to those seen in strep throat people with strep throat typically experience the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Headache
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Throat soreness and redness with white patches
If you have been having oral sex and are experiencing these symptoms, you should tell your health care provider so that you can be tested for oral gonorrhea in addition to strep throat.
Can Amoxicillin Cure Std Super Infections
So far, weve been talking about the standard, run-of-the-mill case of STDs thats common in millions of people. Unfortunately, there is a new common threat. The World Health Organization recently reported that certain STDs, including gonorrhea, has been growing more resilient to the antibiotics weve been discussing, such as amoxicillin, which are usually used to eradicate it.
One of the likely causes of this advanced super gonorrhea is the fact that people often dont finish their antibiotics. Will Amoxicillin Cure Gonorrhea? Sure, most of the time. But you need to complete your medication, even if your symptoms seem to disappear. Stopping too early can allow bacteria to continue to grow and mutate. This can result in the infection coming back, or becoming far more dangerous.
This new super gonorrhea is much harder to stop. In some severe cases, it is incurable. Most bacteria will eventually evolve, developing resistances against specific antibiotics over time. Unfortunately, that includes amoxicillin. So while amoxicillin can currently usually treat gonorrhea, it will become less effective against strains of super gonorrhea in the future.
Recommended Reading: Can Bv Cause Positive Chlamydia Test
What Are Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Oral sex is a very common sexual practice where an individual puts his or her oral area on the genital area of his or her partner. According to the American Sexual Health Association, more than 80% of sexually active individuals between the ages of 15 and 44 years engage in oral sex with their partner.
Just like for vaginal and anal sex, oral sex can put the individual at high risk of contracting a sexual disease and infection. One can get an STD in the mouth and pharynx when performing oral sex with a person who has an infection in his/her genitals. Likewise, an infected person can transfer the disease from his/her mouth to the genitals of his/her partner. The transmission mode is the mouth who gets in contact with bodily fluids.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are very common sexually transmitted diseases caused by two distinctive bacteria. They are both contracted sexually when someone engages in unsafe sex with an infected person. While both do not show symptoms upon infection, some experience some signs. Men and women can be both infected with these two bacteria. The best way to prevent the spread is to get tested early, identify the specific cause of infection, and treat it.
What Is Oral Gonorrhea
Oral gonorrhea is an STI that specifically affects the mouth and throat, and its caused by the same pathogen as genitourinary and anal gonorrhea a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhea.
Gonorrhea is one of the most commonly reported STIs in the United States and across the globe.
According to the Pan American Health Organization , gonorrhea is actually the second most common STI in the world, with nearly 80 million new cases per year in teens and adults aged 15 to 49.
Genital gonorrhea is the most common form of the disease, and according to the Mayo Clinic, it can cause symptoms that include:
- Painful urination
- Pus-like discharge from the penis or vagina
- Pain and/or swelling in one testicle
- Lower abdominal pain
Don’t Miss: How To Tell If A Male Has Chlamydia
New Guidelines For Chlamydia Gonorrhoea And Syphilis
Growing antibiotic resistance forces updates to recommended treatment for sexually transmitted infections
30 AUGUST 2016 | GENEVA New guidelines for the treatment of three common sexually transmitted infections have been issued by the World Health Organization in response to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis are all caused by bacteria and they are generally curable with antibiotics. However, these STIs often go undiagnosed and they are becoming more difficult to treat, with some antibiotics now failing as a result of misuse and overuse. It is estimated that, each year, 131 million people are infected with chlamydia, 78 million with gonorrhoea, and 5.6 million with syphilis.
Resistance of these STIs to the effect of antibiotics has increased rapidly in recent years and has reduced treatment options. Of the three STIs, gonorrhoea has developed the strongest resistance to antibiotics. Strains of multidrug-resistant gonorrhoea that do not respond to any available antibiotics have already been detected. Antibiotic resistance in chlamydia and syphilis, though less common, also exists, making prevention and prompt treatment critical.
The new recommendations are based on the latest available evidence on the most effective treatments for these three sexually transmitted infections.
Test Three Body Parts
Chlamydia and gonorrhea can infect the throat and rectum, and if you only test the genitals youll miss these infections. Everybody should have three-site testing or youre only getting a third of the picture, says Emily. Thats why the Nurx Full Control STI Home Test Kit contains throat and rectal swabs, so you can test those sites too.
Recommended Reading: Why Wont My Chlamydia Go Away
Why Take The At
Since both gonorrhea and chlamydia do not show symptoms, the oral test can help screen for and detect an oral infection of chlamydia and/or gonorrhea. It can also evaluate the effectiveness of a given treatment in the eradication of the infection. Both bacterial infections can be cured after being treated.
If you have signs of oral sexually transmitted disease following sex, you need to get tested. These include having a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Also, getting tested for pharyngeal gonorrhea can help lower the risks of genital gonorrhea. Oral sex is considered to be an independent risk factor for genital gonorrhea as the infection can spread from the oral cavity of an infected person to the urethra of the partner.
If you are at high risk of contracting oral chlamydia or gonorrhea then, you have to be tested regularly. Early detection is essential for the eradication of the infection. But it will not be capable to reverse any damage done as a complication of these two bacteria. Those who have had a previous oral STD are at risk of contracting it again, or getting infected with another kind of sexually transmitted disease.
Causes Of Oral Gonorrhea
The most common way of getting oral gonorrhea is through oral sex. Oral sex can spread a significant number of STIs from one partner to another.
- Giving oral sex to a partner with genitourinary or anal gonorrhea can result in oral gonorrhea.
- Receiving oral sex from a partner with oral gonorrhea can result in genitourinary or anal gonorrhea.
You can get oral gonorrhea when your mouth, genitourinary, or anal membranes come into contact with the white or yellow-green, thick discharge that is produced by a gonorrhea infection. Its important to keep in mind that this discharge can be mixed with normal fluids, making it very difficult to detect on plain sight.
According to a study published by the journal Sexual Health, theres a 63 percent possibility of getting urethral-to-pharyngeal gonorrhea for each condomless sex act. The study also found a 9 percent risk of pharyngeal-to-urethral transmission per act.
Although there isnt strong evidence to suggest that gonorrhea can be spread by kissing as stated by the NHS its possible to transmit the bacteria from the mouth to an object , which could then infect another person if its not cleaned or covered with a condom. This type of transmission is extremely rare, but not impossible.
Read Also: How Long Can You Leave Chlamydia Untreated
Who New Treatment Guidelines For Gonorrhea Chlamydia And Syphilis
The World Health Organization on 30th Aug released new therapy guidelines for 3 sexually transmitted infections , stating the updates respond to an urgent need in light of improving antimicrobial resistance.
Ian Askew, director of reproductive health and research at WHO said,
Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis are main public health issues globally, impacting large numbers of peoples quality lifestyle, causing severe illness and often death. The new WHO guidelines strengthen the need to treat these STIs with the appropriate antibiotic, at the appropriate dose, and the right time to decrease their spread and enhance sexual and reproductive health.
With respect to WHO, the 3 bacteria cause over 200 million infections every year, and increasing resistance has made them more complicated or impossible to treat with current antibiotics. Of the 3 infections, WHO states that, gonorrhea is the very challenging to treat, with some strains now resistant to all accessible antibiotics.
When drawing the guidelines, WHO states it looked for therapies that provided high efficacy and quality while paying attention to cost, toxicity, route of administration, along with the likelihood for resistance to the therapies developing.
Furthermore to revamping its therapy recommendations, WHO says that individual health systems should boost surveillance for the infections, and urges nations to quickly follow the new guidelines.
How Can Gonorrhea Be Prevented
Taking certain precautions will help prevent the spread of gonorrhea. There are also preventive measures that can keep the infection from occurring in the first place.
The most reliable ways to prevent gonorrhea are to:
- abstain from sexual intercourse
- always use a condom during vaginal, oral, or anal sexual intercourse
- have a sexually monogamous partner who doesnt have the infection
Since gonorrhea doesnt usually cause symptoms, its important for people who are sexually active to get tested regularly. This is especially important if their partner has been diagnosed with gonorrhea.
Consider speaking with a doctor about how often to get tested for gonorrhea and other STIs.
Also Check: Can You Be Exposed To Chlamydia And Not Get It
Is Mouthwash Enough Or Do You Really Need Antibiotics
Mouthwash has long been believed to be able to cure gonorrhea. Until fairly recently, there was no scientific evidence to back the claim.
Data collected from a 2016 randomized controlled trial and an in vitro study found that the mouthwash Listerine significantly reduced the amount of N. gonorrhoeae on the pharyngeal surface. Chow EPF, et al. . Antiseptic mouthwash against pharyngeal Neisseria gonorrhoeae: A randomized controlled trial and an in vitro study. DOI:
While this is certainly promising, more research is needed to assess this claim. A larger trial is currently underway.
Antibiotics are the only treatment thats proven to be effective.
If left untreated, oral gonorrhea can spread through your bloodstream to other parts of your body.
This can lead to systemic gonococcal infection, also known as disseminated gonococcal infection.
Systemic gonococcal infection is a serious condition that can cause joint pain and swelling and skin sores. It can also infect the heart.
Gonorrhea of the genitals, rectum, and urinary tract can cause other serious complications when left untreated.
Possible complications include:
With proper treatment, gonorrhea is curable.
However, new strains of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea can be more difficult to treat.
The CDC recommends that anyone treated for oral gonorrhea return to their healthcare provider 14 days after treatment for a test-of-cure. Gonococcal infections. .
How Is It Possible To Get Chlamydia In Mouth Or Nose
When a person is involved in oral sex with a person, who is already suffering from chlamydia, the risk of disease transmission increases. Note that, oral sex includes using lips, mouth, or tongue to cause stimulation of vagina, penis, and anus of another partner. Studies reveal that the risk of getting STD via oral sex usually depend upon the type of sexual activity performed, and on the type of infection, the person is already infected with. Generally, oral chlamydia transmission can happen if:
The strange fact is that the opposite is also true. The genital chlamydia can also occur from a person who is already suffering from oral chlamydia symptoms.
The cases include:
You May Like: How Soon Can You Treat Chlamydia
How Do You Get Gonorrhea
People usually get gonorrhea from having unprotected sex with someone who has the infection. Gonorrhea is spread when semen , pre-cum, and vaginal fluids get on or inside your genitals, anus, or mouth. Gonorrhea can be passed even if the penis doesnt go all the way in the vagina or anus.
The main ways people get gonorrhea are from having vaginal sex, anal sex, or oral sex. You can also get gonorrhea by touching your eye if you have infected fluids on your hand. Gonorrhea can also be spread to a baby during birth if the mother has it.
Gonorrhea isnt spread through casual contact, so you CANT get it from sharing food or drinks, kissing, hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on toilet seats.
Many people with gonorrhea dont have any symptoms, but they can still spread the infection to others. So using condoms and/or dental dams every time you have sex is the best way to help prevent gonorrhea even if you and your partner seem totally healthy.
Definition Of Oral Chlamydia
Chlamydia is caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis which can result in infections of the penis, vagina, urinary tract, throat and rectum. Oral chlamydia is the type of chlamydia specifically located in the throat. According to The Centers for Disease Control, chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, with over 2 million reports every year within the United States.
Recommended Reading: Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Test Cvs
Rationale For Guideline Updates
Several studies have documented the emergence of azithromycin resistance due to its widespread usage to treat infections. For chlamydia treatment, data obtained from azithromycin versus doxycycline studies, show higher treatment failure rates with azithromycin compared to doxycycline.6 A randomized trial conducted by Manavi K, et al, reported 100% treatment success with doxycycline and 75% with azithromycin for the treatment of rectal chlamydia infection.2 Per STI guidelines, Levofloxacin is still recommended as an alternative regimen for chlamydia treatment as it is an effective treatment, but it is more expensive compared to the recommended regimen. Erythromycin is associated with gastrointestinal side effects which excludes it from the alternative treatment regimen options.2
According to a study in 2017, the increasing resistance of azithromycin in treating Neisseriagonorrhoeae threatens dual antimicrobial treatment.7 In this study, the results suggested a direct relation between increasing exposure to azithromycin and higher azithromycin minimum inhibitory concentration in Neisseria gonorrhoeae caused by mutations of mtrR, which may result in clinical resistance.7
Testing For Oropharyngeal Gonorrhea
If you get tested for gonorrhea, it is important to tell your healthcare provider if you have been having oral sex so that you can have your throat checked as well. Culture remains the gold standard for testing for oropharyngeal gonorrhea the nucleic acid amplification test that is commonly used for genital gonorrhea has not been FDA approved for testing for the presence of oropharyngeal gonorrhea. To culture gonorrhea, a sterile swab is rubbed against the back of the throat and then onto a culture plate. Several days are needed for the bacterial colonies to grow enough so that they can be tested for N. gonorrhoeae. Anyone who tests positive for gonorrhea should also be tested for other STIs like chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS.
Don’t Miss: How Fast Can I Get Chlamydia Results
Dont Stop With Two Stis
While youre screening for these STIs, get checked for others, like HIV and syphilis. If youre at risk for one, youre at risk for others thats why the Nurx STI test kits are comprehensive, says Emily.
Nurx makes STI testing convenient, comfortable and private, by sending a kit to your home and providing you with results and follow-up support online. If you do test positive for anything, our medical team will either prescribe treatment or refer you to in-person care.
Urogenital Infection In Women
In women, chlamydial infection of the lower genital tract occurs in the endocervix. It can cause an odorless, mucoid vaginal discharge, typically with no external pruritus, although many women have minimal or no symptoms.2 An ascending infection can result in pelvic inflammatory disease .
Physical findings of urogenital chlamydial infection in women include cervicitis with a yellow or cloudy mucoid discharge from the os. The cervix tends to bleed easily when rubbed with a polyester swab or scraped with a spatula. Chlamydial infection cannot be distinguished from other urogenital infections by symptoms alone. Clinical microscopy and the amine test can be used to help differentiate chlamydial infection from other lower genital tract infections such as urinary tract infection, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis.3 In addition, chlamydial infection in the lower genital tract does not cause vaginitis thus, if vaginal findings are present, they usually indicate a different diagnosis or a coinfection.
Some women with C. trachomatis infection develop urethritis symptoms may consist of dysuria without frequency or urgency. A urethral discharge can be elicited by compressing the urethra during the pelvic examination. Urinalysis usually will show more than five white blood cells per high-powered field, but urethral cultures generally are negative.
Read Also: When Can You Have Intercourse After Chlamydia Treatment