Gonorrhea, NAAT, Urine

Urine

Reference range:

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is one of the most common STIs, affecting millions of individuals worldwide annually. Gonorrhea primarily infects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and the urethra in both men and women. It can also affect the mouth, throat, eyes, and rectum.

The transmission of gonorrhea typically occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. A significant concern with gonorrhea is its capacity to be asymptomatic, particularly in women. When symptoms are present, they can vary. In men, common symptoms include a burning sensation during urination and a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Women may experience increased vaginal discharge, painful urination, vaginal bleeding between periods, and abdominal or pelvic pain. If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious health complications. In women, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can result in infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. In men, gonorrhea can lead to painful inflammation of the ducts in the testicles, which can also result in infertility.

One of the most concerning aspects of gonorrhea is its growing resistance to antibiotics. Over the years, Neisseria gonorrhoeae has developed resistance to many of the antibiotics used for treatment, making it increasingly difficult to treat. Currently, the recommended treatment involves a combination of two antibiotics: ceftriaxone and azithromycin. However, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhea is a significant public health concern, emphasizing the need for new treatment strategies.

Prevention of gonorrhea is primarily through safe sex practices, including the use of condoms. Regular screening for sexually active individuals, particularly those with new or multiple sexual partners, is crucial for early detection and treatment. Public health campaigns also focus on education about STIs, promoting safe sex practices, and encouraging regular health check-ups to prevent the spread of gonorrhea and other STIs.

What is NAAT?

Detection of gonorrhea in STD panels is frequently achieved using Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) conducted on urine samples. NAATs have emerged as the preferred method for gonorrhea testing due to their superior sensitivity and specificity compared to culture or other diagnostic methods. These molecular tests amplify genetic material from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, allowing for the detection of the bacterium even in low quantities. The use of urine samples for this purpose offers a non-invasive, patient-friendly testing option. This is particularly advantageous for large-scale screening programs and in settings where patient compliance is critical. A key benefit of urine-based NAATs is the ability to simultaneously test for both gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis, streamlining the testing process and facilitating early detection of these infections. Early and accurate detection of gonorrhea is crucial for effective treatment, typically with antibiotics, and for preventing serious health complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease in women and epididymitis in men. Furthermore, timely identification and treatment of gonorrhea are vital for preventing its spread, as many infections are asymptomatic and can unknowingly be transmitted. The high efficacy of NAATs in detecting gonorrhea in urine samples plays a crucial role in the management and control of this STD, highlighting the importance of these tests in contemporary sexual health care and public health initiatives.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a highly-personalized health dashboard.

Instead of searching for your lab results in different places or tracking them down from different providers, Healthmatters houses, organizes, and interprets them all in one central location.

With a Healthmatters account, you can dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data, anytime, anywhere.

For our professional users, Healthmatters provides intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
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  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.

It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.

If you’re on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.

There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."

Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.

For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.

We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.

Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.

Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.

For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.

Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.

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Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.

You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.

Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.

Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.

We’ve crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.

1. Graph View:

Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.

2. All Tests View

Explore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.

3. Table View:

For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.

Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.

Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.

Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.

Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.

A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.

The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.

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