Is there any home remedies for Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is one of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterial.
The bitter truth.
The internet is full of potential home remedies for gonorrhea, but they aren't reliable. Antibiotics can be used to treat gonorrhea.
Garlic
Garlic is known to contain some antibacterial properties, which makes it a common home remedy for bacterial infections.
The research is somewhat promising — but it was done in a laboratory setting, not on humans with gonorrhea.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
An internet search for natural gonorrhea remedies often recommends apple cider vinegar taken orally or applied topically as a solution. However, there aren't any research studies to support or refute these claims.
While apple cider vinegar might have some antibacterial properties, it's also highly acidic, which can irritate the delicate tissues of your genitals.
LISTERINE
According to a 2016 articleresearchers studied the effects of the antiseptic mouthwash Listerine on gonorrhea bacteria present in people's mouths, .
The study's researchers asked men who had oral gonorrhea to use Listerine mouthwash or a placebo for one minute daily.
At the study's conclusion, the researchers found that 52 percent of men who used Listerine were culture-positive, while 84 percent of those who used a saline placebo mouthwash were positive.
The study's authors concluded that Listerine may help treat — but not necessarily cure — oral gonorrhea.
GOLDENSEAL
Goldenseal is a plant known to have antimicrobial properties. European settlers in the 1800s used goldenseal as a treatment for gonorrhea.
While some research exists surrounding using goldenseal as an alternative to antibiotics to treat resistant staph bacteria, there isn't any significant research about goldenseal to treat gonorrhea.
While the settlers may have tried it, it's not a proven method.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GONORRHEA
The CDC recommends treating uncomplicated gonorrhea with a single 500-milligram intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone. The recommendation applies to infections around the urinary tract, genitals, anus, rectum, and pharynx.
Previously, the CDC recommended ceftriaxone plus oral azithromycin. The recommendations were changed because azithromycin resistance is an increasing concern.
If you're allergic to ceftriaxone, your doctor may prescribe other medications.
If you still have symptoms 3 to 5 days after finishing antibiotic treatment, follow up with a healthcare professional. You may need a different antibiotic or additional treatment.
To avoid transmitting the infection to others, avoid all sexual activity until you've completed treatment and don't have any symptoms. It's also important for your sexual partners to get tested and treated as well.
EARLY TREATMENT
While antibiotics clear up the infection, they won't necessarily reverse any of the complications discussed below. This is why it's so important to start antibiotic treatment as soon as possible.
Without treatment, gonorrhea can lead to complications that can have lasting effects.
In men, this includes epididymitis , an inflammation of the tube that carries sperm. Severe epididymitis can lead to infertility.
In women, untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease . That can lead to its own complications, such as:
- infertility
- ectopic pregnancy
- pelvic abscesses
A pregnant person can also transmit gonorrhea to a newborn, resulting in joint infections, blindness, and blood-related infections in the newborn.
If you're pregnant and think you may have gonorrhea, see a healthcare professional immediately for treatment.
Left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to potentially serious complications. It's important to see a healthcare professional right away if you think you have gonorrhea.
Remember, it's among the more common STIs, so you're not alone in looking for help.
While the internet is full of potential home remedies for gonorrhea, these aren't reliable. Antibiotics are the only effective treatment for gonorrhea.