Gonorrhea Myths
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The Myth
Gonorrhea can not be transmitted from oral sex.
The Reality
Gonorrhea is a serious STD and can be transmitted from any type of sex (anal, oral, and vaginal). It is important to tell your health care provider
what kinds of sex you have had so that they can correctly test and treat you.
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The Myth
An untreated gonorrhea infection will "turn" into syphilis.
The Reality
When it comes to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), there are numerous myths out there. One such myth is that if you have one STD, it can turn
into another STD. In reality, when a person has one STD, it will not turn into something else. Each STD is a separate and different disease. So
gonorrhea will not turn into syphilis, chlamydia will not turn into herpes, hepatitis B will not turn into HIV, and so forth. But a person could
certainly have more than one STD at the same time, especially since these diseases are transmitted in similar ways. So gonorrhea will not turn into
syphilis, but a person may have both gonorrhea and syphilis at the same time. Just as a human will not turn into a gorilla , and a cat will not turn
into a dog, gonorrhea will not turn into syphilis.
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The Myth
STDs are most common in older unmarried men.
The Reality
Teens have higher rates of gonorrhea than do sexually active men and women ages 20-44. More sexually active teens have contracted gonorrhea than
sexually active 20-44 year olds. Chlamydia, another STD, is also more common among teens than older men and women.
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The Myth
If I only engage in oral sex I can't contract a sexually transmitted infection.
The Reality
STDs can be transmitted through oral sex, vaginal sex, anal sex, and in some cases heavy petting. Penile penetration is not a prerequisite for
disease transmission. In fact, the number of cases of gonorrhea of the throat are increasing.
