Gonorrhea: Symptoms

What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?

Symptoms of gonorrhea infection vary among individuals. It is not unusual for both men and women with gonorrhea to have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all in the early stage of the disease. However, serious permanent damage to the reproductive tissues, infertility, and other complications can occur even in the absence of symptoms.

Symptoms of gonorrhea generally begin to occur about two to five days and up to about 30 days after exposure to the disease through sexual contact.

Symptoms in women include:

• Fever

• Lower abdominal pain

• Pain or burning with urination

• Painful sexual intercourse

• Unusual cloudy vaginal discharge

• Unusual vaginal bleeding, including after sexual intercourse

Symptoms in men include:

• Cloudy discharge from the penis

• Fever

• Frequent urination

• Male infertility

• Pain or burning with urination

• Testicular pain

Symptoms of gonorrhea can also occur in the anus or throat if sexual activity and gonorrhea infection involved these areas. These symptoms can include:

• Anal itching

• Bloody stool

• Cloudy discharge from the anus

• Painful bowel movements

• Sore throat