Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is generally transmitted through sexual contact (oral, vaginal, or anal) with an infected partner. An infected mother can pass the disease to her baby during childbirth.

While many men with gonorrhea will experience symptoms, most women do not, or they are mistaken for a bladder or other vaginal infection. For men, symptoms usually appear within 2 to 5 days of infection, but can take up to 30 days; for women, those who have symptoms usually experience them within 10 days of infection. Symptoms include, for females, burning or painful urination, increased vaginal discharge, and sometimes bleeding between menstrual periods or brought on by vaginal intercourse. For men, symptoms include a white, yellow or green discharge from the penis, a burning sensation when urinating, and sometimes painful or swollen testicles. Symptoms of rectal infection include discharge, itching, and painful bowel movements.

Gonorrhea can be treated with a course of antibiotics. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to severe complications. Women can develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection that spreads from the vagina and cervix to the uterus and fallopian tubes. PID can cause scaring of the fallopian tubes, which can lead to ectopic pregnancy or infertility. In men, the infection can lead to an inflammation of the testicles that can result in sterility. In both males and females, the bacteria can also spread to the bloodstream and infect the joints, causing a type of arthritis. Other potentially severe clinical complications include osteomyelitis, meningitis, endocarditis, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and fatal septic shock. A newborn infected with gonorrhea can develop blood, joint, and eye infections that can lead to blindness if not treated.