Gonorrhea Symptoms for Women

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which thrives in moist, warm areas of the body like cervix, vagina, urinary tract, mouth and rectum. Known to be one of the oldest sexually transmitted disease, research shows that annually nearly million cases of gonorrhea occur worldwide, including both men and women, particularly between the ages 18 to 30 years. The disease gets transmitted through sexual activity, including oral, vaginal and rectal sex and even by using sex toys. The infection can also be passed on to the newborns if their mother is infected by it. Hence, gonorrhea cannot be transmitted from toilet seats, door handles, hugging, or just by touching the person as the bacteria cannot live outside the body even for a couple of seconds.

Also known as 'clap', named after a treatment used to clear the blockage in the urethra, gonorrhea, if treated well on time can be cured up to 90% but if left untreated, can lead to infertility and some other severe problems.

Gonorrhea Symptoms in Women

The symptoms of gonorrhea for women are very mild and non specific, especially, during the initial stages of the infection, hence, the symptoms are often mistaken for some bladder or vaginal infection. Moreover, most women experience no symptoms during the early stages, and the symptoms usually appear within 2 to 10 days or sometimes even after 30 days of the bacterial infestation. Some of the common gonorrhea symptoms for women are given below.

• Burning or frequent urination
• A yellowish or white vaginal discharge
• Redness and swelling of the genitals
• Strong smelling vaginal discharge
• Irritation or discharge from anus
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Burning sensation or itchiness in the vaginal area
• Inflammation of fallopian tubes and ovaries, leading to pelvic inflammation or infection
• Pelvic cramping and abdominal pain
• Painful bowel movements
• Severe pain during and after intercourse
• Fever and general tiredness
• Swollen and painful glands at the vaginal opening
• Eye redness and watery discharge from eyes (rarely)

Gonorrhea Treatment for Women

Since in most cases, the symptoms remain unnoticed, proper diagnosis is conducted to ascertain the condition and start the necessary treatment. The doctor may conduct a genital examination by performing a urine or swab test. Earlier the gonorrhea treatment was fairly simple, wherein a penicillin infection was given to the patient. However, over time the bacteria became resistant to such antibiotics and so it became difficult to treat gonorrhea. But fortunately today there are various oral medications that can be used to treat gonorrhea in both men and women. Treatment mainly comprises antibiotics like ceftriaxone, cefixime, ciprofloxacin, or ofloxacin, which should be taken only under a doctor's recommendation.

In most cases, the infection is cured, however, gonorrhea can reoccur if proper care and hygiene is not maintained. Hence, the best way to avoid the risks of having gonorrhea is to use latex condoms, which will not only prevent gonorrhea symptoms in women but also other STDs and HIV/AIDS. Also avoid having sex with your partner until you have completed your entire treatment course for gonorrhea. I hope the information given in this article proves to be beneficial in understanding and dealing with this sexually transmitted disease in a better way.