{"id":4065,"date":"2019-02-20T05:40:36","date_gmt":"2019-02-20T05:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=4065"},"modified":"2021-05-27T14:12:45","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T14:12:45","slug":"15-symptoms-of-gonorrhea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-symptoms-of-gonorrhea\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Symptoms of Gonorrhea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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One of the most common sexually-transmitted diseases, often known as STD\u2019s, is gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is definitely a serious condition that you need to seek treatment for but identifying whether you have gonorrhea can be difficult. There are a few different symptoms that you can look for when you are trying to determine whether you have a sexually-transmitted disease, but they are not always completely accurate. That\u2019s why you need to be aware of your sexual partners, ask questions, and try to limit the number of partners you have that you don\u2019t know well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also take any precautions that you can, such as the use of condoms and participating in safer sex practices that are less likely to lead to an STD. Most of all, you need to educate yourself, and that starts with knowing what the symptoms of gonorrhea actually are.  Here are eight symptoms of gonorrhea that you can be on the lookout for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Urination & Intercourse Symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first set of symptoms that we\u2019ll be discussing is urination symptoms. Paying attention to your urination can give you a great deal of information, especially when it comes to STD\u2019s. The key to knowing whether you have an STD <\/a>with urination is to determine whether you have pain when urinating. This is the same for both men and women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone that has ever gotten soap or shampoo in their urinal tract and experienced painful burning from it for a period of time will be familiar with the sensation of painful urination. There are other conditions that can be diagnosed through urination problems, such as kidney stones, but the pain from an STD is a burning pain that is less intense than kidney stone pain. It is very similar to what you might feel from getting soap in the wrong place. You might also experience pain while having sexual intercourse as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2.Abnormal Bleeding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another big symptom is abnormal bleeding. This is not very common, but it can sometimes happen with gonorrhea<\/a>. Generally, this will happen to women more often than it happens to men, and it usually presents in the form of abnormal bleeding between periods. If you are between periods, and you notice what is normally called \u201cspotting,\u201d then you may want to get tested for STD\u2019s. For men, this usually presents as anal bleeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, an STD is first and foremost an infection, so it can be difficult to predict where it will present, but if you notice either of these problems, and you cannot think of another reason why the bleeding may be happening (such as hemorrhoids), then you may want to get an STD test. There are lots of reasons why abnormal bleeding may happen, but instances, where it happens, are pretty rare, so if you experience this, it is a good opportunity to go and get tested. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3.Vaginal, Penile or Other Discharge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Discharge <\/a>is definitely something that you want to look into. Discharge is the direct result of an infection, and it can be a big neon sign to having an STD like gonorrhea. There are a few types of discharge that may happen when you have a sexually-transmitted disease. The first is discharge through sexual organs. This discharge happens in both men and women, and as long as you are paying attention to your body, you should be able to tell when you are experiencing a discharge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For men, the discharge will come from the tip of the penis. For women, it will be harder to discern. Both genders should definitely pay attention to their bodies and any discharge that is coming out. An uncommon complaint from those that have gonorrhea is anal discharge and diarrhea. However, just because it is uncommon doesn\u2019t mean it is impossible, and you should get checked if you think that you have this particular symptom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4.Swelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swelling <\/a>can be a sign that you have a sexually-transmitted disease like gonorrhea as well. The swelling will usually only happen with guys because it almost never happens to any areas outside of the testicles. However, it can be difficult to know if your testicles are swollen. If the swelling is only slight, then looking at them is not going to help, so you should pay attention to how you feel instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most guys know what it feels like to get injured in that particular region and swelling of the testicles can have some of those same sensations \u2013 especially the ones that occur after the injury has occurred and after most of the pain has gone away. This will usually build up over a period of days or weeks, so you are going to have to pay attention after each sexual encounter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5.Itching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Itching <\/a>can also be a symptom of some infection like gonorrhea taking its toll. This itching can present in several locations. For men, the itching may be in the penis \u2013 and it may feel like it is deep inside and impossible to get to \u2013 but often it is not near the penis at all, but instead, you experience itching of the anus. The problem is, most guys do not pay close attention to such an innocuous symptom since the same symptom can present when you don\u2019t wipe properly as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this can be an indicator that you need to get tested, especially if you are experiencing other symptoms as well. For women, the itching usually happens in the genital region. Again, this is something that can occur with other illnesses and conditions, but women that experience this itching should consider gonorrhea as a potential cause and get tested. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6.Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a couple of ways that gonorrhea can cause pain. One of the ways is painful urination. This is usually the same for both men and women. The pain usually comes just as the urination begins and it is often accompanied by burning. The reason that this happens is due to the bacterial infection inside of the urethra and the swelling and inflammation <\/a>that happens because of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men are more likely to experience this symptom, but women can have painful burning when urinating as well. However, with men specifically, there is another type of pain that can be caused by gonorrhea. Men can experience swelling of the testicles which causes anything from a dull ache to a sharp, pronounced pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7.Diarrhea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Diarrhea <\/a>can be a symptom, but it is a pretty uncommon one. Generally, if you do experience this symptom as part of gonorrhea, you are going to experience a couple of other symptoms with it \u2013 itching of the rectum and painful bowel movements. However, there are lots of reasons that you might have diarrhea, from food poisoning to an overactive stomach and digestive system due to stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, unless the diarrhea is accompanied by pain or itching around the anus area, then you are probably looking at a different cause for your diarrhea. It is also important to note that gonorrhea generally affects the area of the body where the infection is present. For example, you can get gonorrhea of the eye, which can, if left untreated, cause partial or full blindness eventually. When you get gonorrhea from a sexual encounter, the genitals are the most likely place where you will notice symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8.Absence of Symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

However, more often than not, there are no symptoms for gonorrhea whatsoever. Many people do not experience any symptoms like the ones described here when they have gonorrhea, but just because you are not experiencing symptoms does not mean that the infection is not wreaking havoc on your system anyway. For this reason, it is vital that you get yourself test for gonorrhea and other sexually-transmitted diseases<\/a> as often as you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you have regular testing done, then you are able to get treatment for gonorrhea, even if you didn\u2019t know that you had it. How often you should be tested depends upon how sexually active you are. Once a month is a good rule-of-thumb, but it could be more for someone who is more sexually active and once every three months for someone who rarely has sex. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Tenderness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While gonorrhea may cause pain in the area of the infection, it is also possible that it might just cause a little tenderness<\/a>. That is caused by the swelling which can cause the area to become inflamed and painful. But seeing as it\u2019s very possible to experience gonorrhea with no symptoms at all, it shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise to learn that sometimes you might experience just a milder version of those same symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience tenderness in the genitals, this can be a sign of numerous things and you should always try to consider the symptoms together as a whole rather than looking at them in an isolated fashion. Tenderness in the genitals, in particular, is actually a relatively rarer symptom of gonorrhea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Swelling of the Foreskin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swelling <\/a>in the foreskin is another potential symptom of gonorrhea. Swelling in response to an infection is the body\u2019s attempt at trying to make the environment less hospitable to bacteria. In other words, it is attempting to drive the bacteria out of the body while at the same time flooding the area with white blood cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have swelling in the foreskin, then this might make it more uncomfortable to engage in normal activities. For example, it might become a little painful when experiencing an erection as the foreskin must push over the tip of the penis. This, in turn, can make sex more difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Tiredness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tiredness <\/a>is one of the most universal symptoms when it comes to a huge range of different illnesses and infections. In the case of an infection, you will become tired as your body attempts to fight the infection and provides your immune system with more of the energy. This leaves you with less energy yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the pro-inflammatory cytokines that trigger the inflammation you experience downstairs can also impact on the brain, causing tiredness, brain fog, and even depression. Ever wondered why you find it hard to concentrate when you are suffering from a cold? Brain fog, and the responsible cytokines, holds the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Conjunctivitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When we think of gonorrhea, we understandably think of the symptoms as that effect the genitals. This is the most common area to experience them and thus it is what most people will be looking out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, though, conjunctivitis <\/a>is also a potential repercussion of gonorrhea. This becomes an issue if ever the semen or vaginal fluids come into contact with the eyes, when the person has the infection. You might then experience redness of the eyes and soreness as the result of having an infection, and this can likewise trigger symptoms like tiredness and fever. The main difference is simply that the pain is affecting the eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While gonorrhea can often present with no symptoms when it affects the genitals, it tends to be a little harder to miss around the eyes, where it is likely to cause redness, swelling, and the production of discharge. This is a result yet again of the body attempting to fight the infection and in this case, flush it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is possible in some cases for a gonorrhea infection to be passed to a child. This happens because the baby receives the infection from the mother directly, and during birth. The infection will affect their eyes as well as their lungs, and they will show signs of discharge and redness around the eyes early on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is very important for this reason to always get checked for STDs when you get pregnant if you think there is any chance that you may have contracted one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Anal Discharge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anal discharge, swelling, and discomfort are all symptoms of gonorrhea affecting the anus \u2013 which can occur as a result of unprotected anal sex. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind as well, that as gonorrhea is able to survive by being transferred on the hands, it is also possible to experience other forms of gonorrhea and for it to spread. For instance, if you have a gonorrhea infection that causes you to itch before touching your eyes, then you may cause yourself conjunctivitis<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main way that gonorrhea can not spread however is on surfaces where it will die almost instantly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, gonorrhea can also affect the throat during unprotected oral sex, where it might similarly cause swelling, pain, and discharge, This may make it hard to talk or to swallow food. This may be mistaken for other forms of throat infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Infertility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In extreme cases, if the condition is allowed to progress, then it can eventually lead to infertility<\/a>. This is why it is so important to be vigilant when considering safe sex practices. If you suspect that you may have a gonorrhea infection, then it is your moral obligation to ensure that you properly inform all prospective partners and that you use protection. Likewise, it is an important responsibility to ensure that you are regularly tested for STDs if you are sexually active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While infertility is uncommon and is considered a complication, it is dangerous in particular due to the fact that it can so often go unnoticed. Once gonorrhea is correctly diagnosed, it can be easily treated in most cases through a course of antibiotics. These can also be used to treat the infection in babies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While risk factors<\/a> are not symptoms, it is always useful to consider them in conjunction with the symptoms. If you are looking at the symptoms, then chances are that you are trying to diagnose discomfort you are experiencing, or that you are trying to assess your own likelihood of having the condition. In either case, knowing whether you are statistically at risk can be very useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of gonorrhea, the main risk factor is, of course, sexual contact. If you have had unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone who hasn\u2019t been checked for STDs, then you are at risk. Note as well that the male partner does not need to ejaculate in order for the condition to spread, which also means that a condom cannot offer 100% protection against transmission. Simply touching an infected area may be enough to cause the disease to spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that the symptoms will normally show up 2-5 days after contact, though in some cases they may never appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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