Symptoms Of Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is among the sexually transmitted diseases commonly known as STDs, and it is caused by a bacterium known as Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Upon infection, the key areas targeted by the bacteria are the moist or wet parts of the body in both men and women. Some of these moist areas include but are not limited to the eyes, throat, penis, vagina, urethra, uterus anus, cervix and fallopian tube also called the oviduct. As mentioned earlier on, gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease. The forms of sex that favor the transmission of this infection are having unprotected anal sex, vagina sex or even oral sex.

Symptoms

The symptoms of gonorrhea are not easily noticeable especially in the early days after exposure. Some people even think the disease cannot be transmitted by an infected person who has not yet developed any signs. This is a notion and a complete lie. An infected person, whether with symptoms or without having noticeable symptoms can pass on the disease to an uninfected person when they engage in unprotected sex. Such people, in whom the systems are concealed, are referred to as nonsymptomatic carriers. The probability of a person infected with gonorrhea who has not yet developed visible symptoms to spread the disease is much greater than that of an infected person who has visible symptoms. One of the reasons for this is probably because when one is infected the symptoms and is made aware to be infected, he / she is most likely going to seek treatment. The doctor consulted may advise the person to keep off from sex to avoid spreading the disease and also to give room for healing.

Though not always interpreted correctly, the symptoms of gonorrhea develop as early as two days after one is exposed to it, and continue to develop for about two weeks. Since the infection mostly affects the genital parts, and reproductive organs, it is possible to have different symptoms for both men and women with only a few which cut across all.

Symptoms in Women

It is more complicated to identify the symptoms of gonorrhea in women. This is because there are no overt symptoms of the infection among many infected women. Another reason for this is that the disease is most often mistaken to be any of the common vaginal yeast or bacterial infections. Sadly, gonorrhea can lead to more adverse effects on the reproductive system of an infected woman, and her health too. In some cases, the disease has been attributed to death. Therefore, one has to be keen to notice the symptoms so that they can start treatment early before the disease gets out of hand. So what are the symptoms of gonorrhea that you should look for if you are a woman? After exposure, it takes several more days for the following symptoms to develop. Please note that some of these symptoms are similar to those of other vaginal infections, and so upon noticing any of them, one should immediately consult a medical officer for diagnosis.

Most common symptoms of gonorrhea in women

In most cases, the symptoms of gonorrhea in women occur unnoticed.

Less Common Symptoms of gonorrhea in women

These are the symptoms which can be identified with the disease a bit more easily:

Inflamed eye. When the bacteria causing gonorrhea spreads to the eyes of the infected woman, they become inflamed.

Rectal discharge, pain and bleeding. The rectum is one of the prime targets of the bacteria. In this area, the bacterium causes pain, bleeding and discharge.

Pain during urination. One of the symptoms that develop in a woman soon after she is infected with gonorrhea is a burning sensation during urination. This is also accompanied by pain.

Increased frequency of urination. When a woman is infected with gonorrhea, they tend to feel to urinate more frequently than a normal woman.

Swelling of the vaginal area. A woman who has contacted gonorrhea may at first experience a burning and itching. Consequently, she will be tempted to scratch herself. This leads to the vaginal area becoming red and swollen.

Vaginal discharge. In the early stages of the infection, the discharge is watery in nature. With time and as the disease continues to mature, the discharge becomes thicker and creamy. The colors keep on changing to pale green and yellowish with time.

Sharp pains on the abdomen. As the bacteria continues to attack on the genitalia, the infected woman may complain of sharp pains especially on the abdomen; mostly the lower abdomen.

Heavier periods or spotting. When not treated in time, the bacteria goes along the reproductive tract of the infected woman. It attacks the ovaries making the infected woman to experience heavier periods which may be accompanied by some spots.

Pain, swelling and irritation of the eye. Although the gonorrhea is known to attack mostly the reproductive tract, it may spread by itself or be spread to the eye after scrubbing an affected part with the hands. The infection of the eye with gonorrhea is scientifically known as conjunctivitis, and the symptoms associated with it are pain in discharge, swelling, irritation and pain in the eyes. The eye discharge is much close to pus both in appearance and state. The eyes also become sensitive to light.

Pain, swelling and irritation of the eye. The disease may be spread to the eye after scrubbing an affected part with the hands. The infection of the eye with gonorrhea is scientifically known as conjunctivitis, and the symptoms associated with it are pain in discharge, swelling, irritation and pain in the eyes. The eye discharge is much close to pus both in appearance and state. The eyes also become sensitive to light.

Sterility. Where treatment is not sorted such that the disease reaches its maturity stages, a scurring or a blockage of the fallopian tubes may occur. This blockage of the oviduct prevents eggs (ovaries) from travelling to the uterus. Some of the ovaries are damaged and hence cannot be fertilized. For the few that are fertilized, now called zygote, they end up being implanted somewhere outside the uterus since the fallopian tube which leads to the womb is blocked. Where the zygote implants itself outside the uterus, then it leads to a condition known as ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, both sterility and ectopic pregnancies are symptoms of gonorrhea.

Blindness in newborn babies. At delivery, an infected mother may pass on the disease to the newborn baby. In the babies, gonorrhea is known to cause blindness.

Least common symptoms of gonorrhea in women

Sore throat. Since the bacteria is attracted to most moist parts of the body, the throat sometimes finds itself to be part of the prime targets. At the throat, the bacteria ends up causing dryness which eventually leads to development of sore throat due to the lack of moisture on it. The sores are persistent.

Pain when having sexual intercourse. Gonorrhea, as discussed earlier, is a sexually transmitted disease whose prime targets include the genitalia. In women, the bacterium is favored by the moist conditions around the vagina. However, as the bacteria stays around this part multiplying, there is a significant decrease in the state of moisture. This makes the woman to feel a lot of pain when engaging in sexual intercourse. It is worth to not that the bacteria can also attack the walls of the vagina and cause some sores. These sores are also responsible for the unbearable pain during coitus.

Bleeding between monthly periods. A woman who is infected with gonorrhea can experience vaginal bleeding in between her monthly periods.

Painful joints. Gonorrhea infection may further spread to the joints of the infected woman making them to turn into red, become swollen and warm with pains. These symptoms are very similar to those of malaria.

Difficulty when swallowing. As a result of the dryness of the throat and the gullet caused by the infection, an infected woman may have swelling in her neck noodles something that consequently makes her to have difficulties when swallowing.

Fever. The infected woman may develop some fever.

Nausea. Women infected with gonorrhea may sometimes suffer from nausea.

Bleeding after sexual intercourse.

Symptoms of gonorrhea in Men

It has been discovered that compared to their counterparts men have a high probability of developing symptoms after they contact gonorrhea. Through the penis, a man gets gonorrhea by having sexual intercourse with an infected member of the opposite sex. Alternatively, the infection can be transmitted from an infected man to an uninfected man when they engage in anal sex, a practice called gayism. Unfortunately, nearly half of the men infected do not notice the symptoms of the disease. This is because, in men, the symptoms of gonorrhea are also mild. It calls for an extra examination to discover the symptoms. The most common symptoms are discussed in details below:

Most common symptoms of gonorrhea in men

Rectal pain. This is mostly evident where the disease is acquired through anal sex. The infected man feels pain in his rectum. The pain is often accompanied by a discharge and also bleeding.

Eye inflammation. When a man contacts gonorrhea, his eyes become inflamed.

Increased frequency of urinating. Just as it is in infected women, infected men feel the urge to urinate more frequently, and the urine cannot be contained for long.

Pain during urination. Infected men feel a burning sensation and some pain when peeing.

Discharge from the penis. For men, the discharge comes through the penis, which is the male sex organ. Usually, it (discharge) it is pus-like in nature. The color varies with time and from one patient to another, from white, greenish to yellow.

Less common symptoms of gonorrhea in men

Testicular pain. The bacteria, when untreated may spread to the epididymis, leading to pains on the testicles and the scrotum.

Sore throat. The case is just similar to the one in women. Since the bacteria is attracted to most moist parts of the body, the throat sometimes finds itself to be part of the prime targets. At the throat, the bacteria ends up causing dryness which eventually leads to development of sore throat due to the lack of moisture on it. The sores are persistent. It is very possible to have this sore throats to be likened to a flu. This is just a proof of how high the possibility of the disease being ignored or being addressed as a different disease.

Burning around the tip of the penis. Infected men report of a burning sensation and itching at the tip of the penis as well as the at the opening.

Reduced fertility and sterility. Gonorrhea infection in men can spread to the tecticles, scrotum and epididymis. It causes scurring of the epididymis hence minimizing the passage of semen or even a total blockage thus making the infected man unable to soar children. This is what causes epididymitis.

Pain, swelling and irritation of the eye. The disease may be spread to the eye after scrubbing an affected part with the hands. The infection of the eye with gonorrhea is scientifically known as conjunctivitis, and the symptoms associated with it are pain in discharge, swelling, irritation and pain in the eyes. The eye discharge is much close to pus both in appearance and state. The eyes also become sensitive to light.

Difficulty swallowing. As a result of the dryness of the throat and the gullet caused by the infection, an infected man may have swelling in his neck noodles something that consequently makes him to have difficulties when swallowing.

Painful joints. Gonorrhea infection may further spread to the joints of the infected man making them to turn into red, become swollen and warm with pains. This symptoms are very similar to those of malaria.