Men may suffer from swelling of the testicles and penis. Both sexes may suffer from arthritis, skin problems and other organ infections caused by the spread of gonorrhea within the body.
Navigation menu. Who gets gonorrhea? How is gonorrhea spread? What are the symptoms of gonorrhea? How soon do symptoms appear? When and for how long is a person able to spread gonorrhea? Does past infection with gonorrhea make a person immune? What is the treatment for gonorrhea? What happens if gonorrhea goes untreated?? What can be done to prevent the spread of gonorrhea? Sexual relations should be approached responsibly. Limit the number of your sex partners. In men, testing a sample of urine can also diagnose the condition.
It's important to get tested as soon as possible because gonorrhoea can lead to more serious long-term health problems if it's not treated, including pelvic inflammatory disease PID in women or infertility. Gonorrhoea is usually treated with a single antibiotic injection usually in the buttocks or thigh. With effective treatment, most of your symptoms should improve within a few days. It's usually recommended you attend a follow-up appointment a week or 2 after treatment so another test can be carried out to see if you're clear of infection.
You should avoid having sex until you have been told you no longer have the infection. Previous successful treatment for gonorrhoea does not make you immune to catching it again. Anyone who's sexually active can catch gonorrhoea, particularly people who change partners frequently or do not use a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom , when having sex.
See Your contraception guide. In , more than 70, people were diagnosed with gonorrhoea in England, with most cases affecting gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Gonorrhoea and other STIs can be successfully prevented by using appropriate contraception and taking other precautions, such as:.
If you're worried you may have an STI, visit a sexual health clinic for advice. Abnormal vaginal bleeding during or after sex or between periods. Genital itching. Irregular menstrual bleeding. Lower abdominal belly pain. Fever and general tiredness. Swollen and painful glands at the opening of the vagina Bartholin glands. Painful sexual intercourse. Sore throat rare. Pinkeye conjunctivitis rare.
Symptoms in men In men, symptoms are usually obvious enough that they will cause a man to seek medical treatment before complications occur. Symptoms may include: Abnormal discharge from the penis clear or milky at first, and then yellow, creamy, and excessive, sometimes blood-tinged. Painful or frequent urination or urethritis. Other Symptoms Disseminated gonococcal infection DGI occurs when the gonorrhea infection spreads to sites other than the genitals, such as the joints, skin, heart, or blood.
Symptoms of DGI include: Rash. Joint pain or arthritis. Inflamed tendons. What Happens Gonorrhea causes no long-term problems if it is treated early in the course of the infection before any complications develop. Complications in women Women with untreated gonorrhea may have the following complications of the female reproductive system: Pelvic inflammatory disease PID. The risk of infertility increases with each episode of PID. An abscess in or near the ovaries tubo-ovarian abscess Inflammation of the Bartholin glands An ectopic tubal pregnancy Chronic pelvic pain Infertility Fitz-Hugh—Curtis syndrome rare Complications in pregnant women Problems related to untreated gonorrhea in pregnant women include: The possibility of a miscarriage.
Preterm labor. The woman may be given medicines to prevent premature birth, which could require a stay in the hospital. Premature rupture of the membranes PROM , which happens before labor contractions start. The amniotic sac breaks open, causing amniotic fluid to gush out, or less commonly, to slowly leak.
Premature delivery. A premature infant has an increased risk of health problems. Infection of the lining of the uterus endometritis. If a woman has gonorrhea when she gives birth, her newborn can be infected.
Complications in newborns Newborns of women with untreated gonorrhea may have any of the following complications: Pinkeye conjunctivitis. Most newborns who have gonorrhea also get pinkeye. An infection in the bloodstream sepsis Inflammation of a joint arthritis Scalp infections at the site of a fetal monitoring device Infection of the fluid and tissues that surround the brain and spinal cord meningitis Complications in men Men with untreated gonorrhea may develop: Epididymitis , an inflammation and infection of the epididymis—the long, tightly coiled tube that lies behind each testicle and collects sperm.
An inflammation of the prostate gland prostatitis. Complications of untreated gonorrhea in other areas of the body Disseminated gonococcal infection DGI occurs when the gonorrhea infection spreads to sites other than the genitals, such as the joints, skin, heart, or blood. Complications of DGI include: Fever. Skin infection cellulitis. An infection in the bloodstream sepsis.
Inflammation of a joint arthritis. It most often affects the knees and hands. An infection and inflammation of the heart valves and the chambers of the heart endocarditis. An infection of the fluid and tissues that surround the brain and spinal cord meningitis. What Increases Your Risk Risk factors for getting gonorrhea include: Having multiple sex partners more than one sex partner in the past year.
Having a high-risk partner partner has other sex partners, unprotected sex, or gonorrhea-infected sex partners. Having unprotected sexual contact not using condoms.
When should you call your doctor? In women: Call your doctor immediately if you have the following symptoms. Vaginal discharge that has become yellowish, thicker, or bad-smelling Bleeding between periods that occurs more than once when periods are usually regular Pain during sexual intercourse Bleeding after sexual intercourse Sores, bumps, rashes, blisters, or warts on or around the genital or anal area Anal itching, discomfort, bleeding, or discharge.
Burning, pain, or itching with urination or frequent urination lasting longer than 24 hours Pelvic or lower belly pain that occurs without a known cause, such as diarrhea or menstrual cramps Pinkeye conjunctivitis Call your doctor or clinic if you have unprotected sex with someone who has, or who you think may have, a sexually transmitted infection.
In men: Call your doctor immediately if you have the following symptoms. Sores, bumps, rashes, blisters, or warts on or around the genital or anal areas Burning, pain, or itching with urination or frequent urination lasting longer than 24 hours Suspected exposure to a sexually transmitted infection Abnormal discharge from the penis Pinkeye conjunctivitis Anal itching, discomfort, bleeding, or discharge. Watchful waiting Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment.
Who to see Health professionals who can diagnose and treat gonorrhea include: Nurse practitioner. Physician assistant. Family medicine physician. Exams and Tests Diagnosis of gonorrhea includes a medical history and a physical exam.
Do you think you have been exposed to any sexually transmitted infections STIs? How do you know? Did your partner tell you? What are your symptoms? Do you have any discharge? If you have discharge from your vagina or penis, it is important to note any smell or color. Do you have sores in your genital area or anywhere else on your body? Do you have any urinary symptoms, including frequent urination, burning or stinging with urination, or urinating in small amounts? Do you have any unusual belly or pelvic pain?
What method of birth control do you use? Do you use a condom to protect against STIs every time you have sex? Do you or your partner engage in certain sexual behaviors that may put you at risk, such as having multiple sex partners or having sex without using a condom except if you're in a long-term relationship?
Have you had an STI in the past? How was it treated? Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history. Then: A woman may have a pelvic exam. A man may have a genital exam to look for signs of urethritis and epididymitis. You may have a urine test for gonorrhea. Your doctor may recommend testing for: Chlamydia, a bacterial infection of the urethra in men, and the urethra, the cervix, or the upper reproductive organs or all three in women.
Syphilis, a bacterial infection in which the most common symptom is a painless sore called a chancre say "SHANK-er" that develops on the genitals. Hepatitis B, a viral infection that causes the liver to become swollen and tender inflamed. Human immunodeficiency virus HIV , a virus that attacks the immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight off infection and some diseases. Early detection The U.
Treatment Overview Gonorrhea causes no long-term problems if it is treated early in the course of the infection before any complications develop. Initial treatment Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics.
Treatment is recommended for: A person who has a positive gonorrhea test. Anyone who has had sexual contact in the past 60 days with a person diagnosed with gonorrhea, whether or not they have symptoms or used condoms.
A newborn whose mother has gonorrhea at the time of delivery. Do not have sexual contact with anyone: While you are being treated. Until both you and your partner s have been tested and treated. If you are treated for gonorrhea and your sex partner is not, you will probably become infected again. Treatment if the condition does not get better Symptoms that do not go away after treatment may be caused by another gonorrhea infection or treatment failure.
What to think about To prevent reinfection, don't have sex until any partner that might be infected is tested and treated. Prevention You can take measures to reduce your risk of becoming infected with gonorrhea or another sexually transmitted infection STI. Practice safer sex Preventing a sexually transmitted infection STI is easier than treating an infection after it occurs.
Talk with your partner about STIs before beginning a sexual relationship. Find out whether he or she is at risk for an STI. Remember that it is quite possible to be infected with an STI without knowing it. Don't have more than one sexual relationship at a time.
Your risk for an STI increases if you have several sex partners at the same time. Home Treatment There is no home treatment for gonorrhea. It requires medicine prescribed by a doctor. If you have been diagnosed with gonorrhea: Take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. If you skip doses or do not complete the treatment, the infection may not be cured. Do not have sexual contact with anyone while you are being treated. If your treatment is a single dose of antibiotics, wait at least 7 days after taking the dose before having any sexual contact.
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