
People who are allergic to ceftriaxone are usually treated with a combination of a gentamicin injection, and a single pill dose of another antibiotic called azithromycin. The first-choice treatment is a one-time injection of the antibiotic ceftriaxone into a muscle. Most cases of gonorrhea are easy to treat. This is because these infections can cause similar symptoms and can also occur together. When someone is tested for gonorrhea, they are typically tested for chlamydia - another type of STI - at the same time. This is because they could be easily mistaken for other causes like UTIs. But it’s important to mention this to them if you are having any of these symptoms. It’s understandably difficult to talk about sexual practices with your provider. This is because the risk of problems from untreated infections, like infertility, are greater in this group.Įven if the above criteria don’t apply to you, you may still need regular STI testing. Routine screening for people who are sexually active under the age of 25Įxperts specifically recommend routine screening for people who are born genetically female. Routine screening for people who have had multiple sexual partners If you have had sexual contact with someone diagnosed with an STI If you have had sexual contact with someone who has symptoms of an STI A culture test usually takes 1 to 2 days for a result, because you need to give the bacteria time to grow.Įven in the absence of symptoms, there are many reasons you should still be tested: The urine test is usually quicker and can often give you same-day results. There are two main ways to test for it:Ī urine sample can be used to test for the presence of gonorrhea DNA.Ī swab of the potentially affected tissue (female cervix, male urethra, throat, or anus) can be ‘cultured.’ This means the swab is spread on a special plate to see if gonorrhea bacteria will grow. The large majority of throat infections are also asymptomatic. Gonorrhea can also spread to the throat, which typically happens through oral sex. Tenesmus, which is a sensation that you need to pass stool, even if there is nothing thereĪnal discharge that looks white or yellow When symptoms are present, they can include: Most of these infections are asymptomatic. Gonorrhea can also infect the rectum in people who have anal sex. This condition is called “epididymitis'' and can lead to pain and sometimes swelling in the testicles. Untreated cases of gonorrhea can also spread further into the epididymis, which is a structure that sits on top of the testicles. In this situation, it can cause symptoms such as:ĭischarge from the penis, which often appears white or yellow If gonorrhea infects the male reproductive tract, it involves the urethra. Symptoms of gonorrhea in male reproductive organs This is called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and it can lead to additional symptoms like: If the infection is left untreated, it can spread up the reproductive tract and into the uterus. Vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods These symptoms may be similar to other STIs or UTIs (urinary tract infections).Ībnormal vaginal discharge, particularly if it has a new foul smell or a thick and yellow appearance Gonorrhea can infect the cervix and urethra of the female reproductive tract. Symptoms of gonorrhea in female reproductive organs

The infection can cause painful inflammation and irritation in these areas. It tends to affect areas of the body that contain ‘mucous membranes,’ such as the lining of the genital tract, rectum, or throat. When gonorrhea does cause symptoms, it depends on what part of the body is infected. Up to 4 out of every 5 women might be asymptomatic as well.

1 out of 10 men who have gonorrhea don’t have any symptoms. People can be infected by the bacteria and not even know they have it. Gonorrhea does not always produce symptoms. Here we’ll discuss symptoms of gonorrhea, the issues it can cause, and how it’s diagnosed and treated. And gonorrhea can cause some serious issues if it’s not treated. More importantly, many cases are asymptomatic so many people do not even realize they are infected. It can infect many different sites in the body, so the symptoms can vary. It is an infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which is most often spread by sexual contact. Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), affecting 1.6 million people every year in the U.S.
