Cause

Gonorrhea is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Gonorrhea is spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. A pregnant woman may pass the infection to her newborn during delivery.

Gonorrhea can be transmitted at any time by a person who is infected with the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, whether or not symptoms are present. A person who is infected with gonorrhea is always contagious until he or she has been treated.

Having a gonorrhea infection once does not protect you from getting another infection in the future. A new exposure to gonorrhea will cause reinfection, even if you were previously treated and cured.

Symptoms

It is fairly common for gonorrhea to cause no symptoms, especially in women. The incubation period, the time from exposure to the bacteria until symptoms develop, is usually 2 to 5 days. But sometimes symptoms may not develop for up to 30 days.

Gonorrhea may not cause symptoms until the infection has spread to other areas of the body.

Symptoms in women

In women, the early symptoms are sometimes so mild that they are mistaken for a bladder infection or vaginal infection. Symptoms may include:

• Painful or frequent urination.
• Anal itching, discomfort, bleeding, or discharge.
• Abnormal vaginal discharge.
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding during or after sex or between periods.
• Genital itching.
• Irregular menstrual bleeding.
• Lower abdominal (belly) pain.
• Fever and general tiredness.
• Swollen and painful glands at the opening of the vagina (Bartholin glands).
• Painful sexual intercourse.
• Sore throat (rare).
• Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) (rare).

Symptoms in men

In men, symptoms are usually obvious enough that they will cause a man to seek medical treatment before complications occur. But some men have mild or no symptoms and can unknowingly transmit gonorrhea infections to their sex partners. Symptoms may include:

• Abnormal discharge from the penis (clear or milky at first, and then yellow, creamy, and excessive, sometimes blood-tinged).
• Painful or frequent urination or urethritis.
• Anal itching, discomfort, bleeding, or discharge.
• Sore throat (rare).
• Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) (rare).

Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) occurs when the gonorrhea infection spreads to sites other than the genitals, such as the joints, skin, heart, or blood. Symptoms of DGI include:

• Rash.
• Joint pain or arthritis.
• Inflamed tendons.