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Gonorrhea
Also known as: GC Formal name: Gonorrhea culture Related tests: Chlamydia
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Common Questions
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1. What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
2. What will happen if I don’t get treated?
3. How is gonorrhea transmitted?
4. How is it treated?
5. How can it be prevented?
1. What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
For women, early symptoms (which are often mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection) include bleeding brought on by vaginal intercourse, burning/painful urination, and a yellow or bloody vaginal discharge. For men, early symptoms include a discharge of pus from the penis, pain in the penis, and a burning sensation when urinating. Symptoms of rectal infection include discharge, itching, and painful bowel movements with blood on the feces.
The symptoms usually appear 2 to 10 days after sexual contact with an infected partner. The early symptoms can be mild, and most women and many men can be infected without showing any symptoms.
2. What will happen if I don’t get treated?
Untreated gonorrhea can lead to severe complications. Women can develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection that spreads from the vagina and cervix to the uterus and fallopian tubes. PID can cause scaring of the fallopian tubes, which can lead to ectopic (or tubal) pregnancy or sterility. The symptoms of PID include heavier periods with more cramps, abnormal mucus discharges, pain in the lower abdomen, weakness, fever, vomiting, and pain during intercourse. Other long-term complications include abscesses and infection around the liver. In men, the infection can lead to an inflammation of the testicles that can results in sterility. The bacteria can also spread to the bloodstream and infect the joints, heart valves or brain, resulting in long-term or permanent organ damage.
3. How is gonorrhea transmitted?
It is generally transmitted through sexual contact (oral, vaginal, or anal) with an infected partner. Because Neisseria gonorrhoeae can survive outside the body for a short time, contact with discharge on a towel or other object used by an infected person may transmit the infection; however, this is very rare. An infected mother can spread the disease to her baby during childbirth.
4. How is it treated?
Gonorrhea can be treated with a course of antibiotics.
5. How can it be prevented?
For information on prevention, click here.
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This article was last reviewed on
August 30, 2006.
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