What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea, commonly known as the "clap," is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can affect both men and women. It is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which grows and multiply in the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (the womb), and the fallopian tube in women; and in the urethra (where the urine passes) in both men and women. It can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.
Gonorrhea can be transmitted through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected person. An infected mother can also pass on the disease to her baby during childbirth.
What are Gonorrhea Symptoms?
In most men, the symptoms usually appear within 2-5 days after infection. There are instances, however, when the symptoms take as long as 30 days to appear or rarely, do not appear at all.
For men, these gonorrhea symptoms include a burning sensation when urinating, frequent urination, or a thick white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes, gonorrhea symptoms can include painful or swollen testicles. This indicates an infection of the urethra. The penis will probably look redder and tender than usual, and there might be swelling of the glands in the groin area.
Most infected women, on the other hand, do not usually exhibit gonorrhea symptoms or quite often only have mild symptoms. Because a large number of women do not show signs of the infection, gonorrhea is sometimes referred to as the "silent infection." This is patently dangerous for women, because gonorrhea can lead to serious and permanent complications if left untreated.
In the early stages, gonorrhea symptoms in women can commonly include frequent and painful urination (a burning sensation when urinating) and bleeding after sex.
Later symptoms in women include nausea, fever, vomiting, bleeding between periods, and a thick yellow or bloody vaginal discharge.
Symptoms of rectal infection includes itchy anus, anal discharge, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movement.
Gonorrhea infection in the throat may cause a sore throat, or a pus-filled growth in the tonsil or at the back of the throat, and difficulty in swallowing. Usually, though, no symptom can be observed.
If you have experienced any of the gonorrhea symptoms explained above, you should take that as a signal to stop having sex and to consult a medical professional immediately. It is also advised that when a person is diagnosed to be infected with gonorrhea, he or she should tell his or her sex partner(s) of the infection. This will ensure that the sex partner will know what gonorrhea symptoms to look out for and to seek medical help and treatment immediately.
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