Gonorrhea: Causes and symptoms

If treated early, gonorrhea can be cured. Unfortunately, many individuals with gonorrhea, particularly women, will experience no symptoms to alert them to the possibility that they have contracted gonorrhea, and therefore, many do not seek treatment. When present, the symptoms and complications of gonorrhea are primarily limited to the genital, urinary, and gastrointestinal systems and usually begin between one day and two weeks following infection. If left untreated, serious complications can result if the disease spreads to the bloodstream and infects the brain, heart valves, and joints. Untreated gonorrhea can also result in severe damage to the reproductive system, making an individual unable to conceive a child (sterile).

As many as 80% of women with gonorrhea show no symptoms. If present, symptoms may include the following:

• bleeding between menstrual periods
• chronic abdominal pain.
• painful urination.
• vaginal discharge, often cloudy and yellow.
• in the case of oral infection, there may be no symptoms or only a sore throat.
• anal infection may cause rectal itching or discharge.

Because women often do not show any symptoms, complications are more likely to occur as the disease progresses. The most common complication is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can occur in up to 40% of women with gonorrhea and may result in damage to the fallopian tubes, a pregnancy developing outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy), or sterility. If an infected woman is pregnant, gonorrhea can be passed on to her newborn through the birth canal during delivery. These infants may experience eye infections that could lead to blindness.

Men are more likely to experience the following symptoms:

• thick and cloudy discharge from the penis.
• burning or pain during urination.
• more frequent urination.
• in the case of oral infection, there may be no symptoms or only a sore throat.
• anal infection may cause rectal itching or discharge.

In men, complications can affect the prostate, testicles, and surrounding glands. Inflammation, tissue death and pus formation (abscesses), and scarring can occur and result in sterility.

— Teresa G. Norris