Knowing gonorrhea signs and symptoms will give a person an idea whether this sexually transmitted disease is present. The signs and symptoms of the infection are somewhat similar in both men and women. (See Reference 1)

Gonorrhea Signs and Symptoms in Women:
Usually the symptoms appear 2 to 10 days after getting exposed to the virus. However, in some women the symptoms can appear even after a period of 3 week. In about 30 to 40 percent of infected women, the symptoms may not be noticeable, and hence, the infection may go undetected. In the remaining women, the following signs and symptoms are present:

• Itching and/or burning sensation when passing urine
• Thick yellow or green color discharge from the vagina
• In case discharge is not present, the infection can still cause irritation of the vaginal region.
• An urge to urinate frequently and experiencing discomfort when urinating.
• Experiencing pain while having intercourse. At times, bleeding may occur during the sexual intercourse.
• Vaginal bleeding between the menstrual periods occurs due to the inflammation as well as infection of the cervix.

If women do not seek treatment for gonorrhea, it can spread from the vaginal region to other organs in the pelvis, such as the uterus or fallopian tubes. This can cause persistent and severe pain in the pelvis region or the lower back. Untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can result in infertility or ectopic pregnancy. It has been seen that out of the infected women, 15 percent develop PID. (See Reference 1)

The infected woman can have one of the aforementioned symptoms or many of them can be present simultaneously.

Gonorrhea Signs and Symptoms in Men
It has been seen that around 20 percent of the infected men do not display any signs of the infection. If the symptoms of the infection are present, the severity can vary from one man to the next. Men, who have symptoms, will notice the following:

• Frequent urge to urinate and this can be accompanied with pain or burning sensation.
• At times, the man may notice the presence of blood in the urine.
• Nearly half of the men with gonorrhea get pus-like charge from the penis. The head of the penis can at times appear red and swollen.
• The lymph nodes at the groin can get swollen in their efforts to fight the infection
• The testicles can become swollen and painful due to the infection reaching the duct of the testicles. This can, in turn, result in epididymitis, which can cause infertility.
• The infection can also cause an inflammation of the prostate gland.

If a person indulges in anal sex, gonorrhea bacterium can infect the rectum leading to pain in the region along with discharge from the anus. In addition, the person will experience itching in the rectal region, pain while having bowel movements and blood in the stool. (See Reference 1)

Oral sex can result in oral gonorrhea infection causing a sore throat with pus-like matter accumulating on the tonsils or at the back of the throat. However, oral gonorrheal infection occurs in less than five percent of cases. (See Reference 1)

A baby can get the infection from the mother during delivery. Initially, the mucus membrane of the eyes will get irritated, and if not treated, the baby will end up with gonococcal infection of the eyes that could result in blindness. (See Reference 1)

At times, gonorrhea infection can lead to complications, such as endocarditis, arthritis and meningitis. Also, those who have the infection are also prone to other STDs, such as AIDS and Chlamydia. (See Reference 1)

More Articles :

• Facts About Gonorrhea
• History Of Gonorrhea
• Gonorrhea Signs And Symptoms
• What Does Gonorrhea Look Like ?
• Can You Permanently Get Rid Of Gonorrhea ?
• Gonorrhea Treatment Side Effects
• How Long Can Gonorrhea Lay Dormant ?
• How Long Does It Take To Cure Gonorrhea Symptoms ?
• How Much Does It Cost To Get Rid Of Gonorrhea ?
• How To Prevent Gonorrhea ?