Signs of Gonorrhea

One of common Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) is gonorrhea. This infection is caused by the bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This bacteria grows and multiples in moist areas of the body like the reproductive tract, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes in women as well as the urethra in both men and women. The gonorrhea infection is not just limited to the reproductive organs, it can spread to other organs of the body like the mouth, throat, eyes and the anus. It can spread through sexual contact involving the vagina, penis, mouth and anus. It also spreads to a newborn baby from the mother during vaginal delivery. Signs of gonorrhea are not very commonly observed in women as compared to men. These signs of gonorrhea in women are often observed after the infection spreads to other parts of the body. Let us have a look what are the signs of gonorrhea in both men and women in detail by reading through the following paragraphs.

What are the Signs of Gonorrhea
The gonorrhea symptoms tend to differ in men and women. We shall have a look at signs of gonorrhea observed in men and women individually.

Signs of Gonorrhea in Women
As mentioned above, it is very commonly observed that there are no early signs of gonorrhea in women. The gonorrhea symptoms for women are much milder than those observed in men. Signs of gonorrhea in women generally go unnoticed till the infection leads to serious complications. The gonorrhea signs seen in women are as follows:

• Painful urination
• Anal itching
• Bleeding or discharge from anus
• Abnormal bleeding from vaginal during or after an intercourse between menstrual cycles
• Genital itching
• Lower abdominal pain
• Irregular menstruation
• Fever
• Swollen glands near the vaginal opening
• Pelvic pain
• Painful intercourse
• Increase in vaginal discharge

Most of these early signs of gonorrhea in women resemble a vaginal infection or bladder infection. Therefore, treatment sought is much later when the infection has spread to other parts of the body.

Signs of Gonorrhea in Men
The gonorrhea symptoms in men are more prominent than in women. Some may experience a few mild gonorrhea signs and may not recognize the infection early on. Some of the signs of gonorrhea in men are as follows:

• Thick white, yellow or green discharge from the tip of the penis
• Pain and burning sensation while urinating
• Anal itching
• Bleeding or discharge from the anus
• Pain or swelling in one testicle

Signs of Gonorrhea in the Throat
In rare cases, one may observe signs of gonorrhea in the throat. The infection spreads to the throat causing signs and symptoms that include a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. Sometimes, pus-like formation may be observed on the back of the throat or on the tonsils.

Complications Related to Signs of Gonorrhea
It is important that one understands the gonorrhea signs, especially he or she belongs to the sexually active age group. This is because untreated gonorrhea can lead to many health complications in men and women. When untreated, it can lead to infections of the uterus and fallopian tube in women. Thus, leading to the serious pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This disease can lead to complications during pregnancy as well as may cause infertility in women. Men who do not seek treatment are also at risk of developing epididymitis. This is the inflammation of the testicles that can lead to infertility in men. This infectious disease can spread to other body parts through blood stream. Thus, leading to swelling, stiffness and pain in joints as well as skin rash, sores and fever. This infection can lead to scalp sores as well as blindness in the newborn. Gonorrhea also makes one susceptible to an infection of HIV/AIDS.

Treatment for Gonorrhea
The treatment for gonorrhea signs includes use of antibiotics. These antibiotics are given either in form of an injection or tablet. These antibiotics include cefixime, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, etc. Most of these antibiotics require only a single dose.

This was all about the early signs of gonorrhea. The best way to prevent gonorrhea signs is by having protected sex. You should use condoms and indulge in a monogamous relationship to avoid any type of sexually transmitted diseases. For more information on signs of gonorrhea and treatment, speak to your health care provider for details.