Gonorrhea treatment typically includes the treatment for which other sexually transmitted disease?

The treatment of gonorrhea often includes co-treatment for chlamydia due to the high prevalence of co-infection with these two sexually transmitted diseases. In many clinical guidelines, such as those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is recommended to treat potential co-infection because many individuals with gonorrhea may also have chlamydia. This dual treatment approach helps to effectively manage both infections, as they can present similarly and a significant number of patients with gonorrhea are also harboring Chlamydia trachomatis.

Chlamydia can lead to serious complications if left untreated, just like gonorrhea, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility in women, and epididymitis in men. Therefore, treating both infections at the same time is a pragmatic approach to reducing the risk of long-term health issues associated with these sexually transmitted infections. The standard treatment regimen typically includes antibiotics that are effective against both organisms, thus streamlining patient care and improving overall treatment outcomes.