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February 3, 2012
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Gonorrhea

Medical Author:

Debra Houry, MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and in the Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education at the Rollins School of Public Health. She is currently the Director for the Center for Injury Control, Rollins School of Public Health and teaches several courses on violence and injury prevention at Emory.

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Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Gonorrhea Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Gonorrhea?

Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, some men have signs or symptoms that appear two to five days after infection; symptoms can take as long as 30 days to appear. Symptoms and signs include a burning sensation when urinating, or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes men with gonorrhea get painful or swollen testicles.

In women, the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild, but most women who are infected have no symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they can be so non-specific as to be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. The initial symptoms and signs in women include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms.

Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Rectal infection also may cause no symptoms. Infections in the throat may cause a sore throat, but usually causes no symptoms.

Read more about gonorrhea symptoms in men and women, oral gonorrhea, and rectal gonorrhea »

SOURCE: CDC.gov. Gonorrhea - CDC Fact Sheet.

Gonorrhea Overview

Gonorrhea is one of the most common diseases passed from one person to another during sexual activity.

  • The overall rate of gonorrhea has decreased to the lowest rate ever recorded, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, gonorrhea is still the second most commonly reported notifiable disease in the United States. The CDC estimates that approximately 700,000 new gonorrheal infections occur yearly in the U.S., only about half of which are reported to the CDC. More than 5% of people between the ages of 18 and 35 have an infection with gonorrhea that they do not know about. New strains are more easily spread and are resisting treatment even with strong antibiotics.
  • Infection with gonorrhea is more common in certain groups of people. The highest reported infection rates occur in the following groups:

    • Adolescents and young adults

    • People (often poor) living in urban areas and Southern states

    • African Americans

    • Drug users

Gonorrhea Causes

Gonorrhea is caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. The infection is transmitted from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal sexual relations.

  • Men have a 20% chance of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a woman infected with gonorrhea.
  • Women have a 50% chance of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a man infected with gonorrhea.
  • An infected mother may transmit gonorrhea to her newborn during vaginal childbirth.
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Gonorrhea

Chlamydia »

Chlamydia Overview

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection disease transmitted when people have sexual relations. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States, with over 2.8 million affected individuals each year. Among adults, about 5% of the population is estimated to be infected. Among sexually active adolescent females, about 10% are infected.

Infection with chlamydia is most commonly found among the following groups:

  • Young adults (24 years and younger)
  • People living in urban areas
  • African Americans
  • Those with lower social and economic status

Chlamydia Causes

Chlamydia is an infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The infection is transmitted in 2 ways:

  • From one person to another through sexual contact (oral, anal, or vaginal).
  • From mother to child ...

Read the Chlamydia article »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Gonococcal Infections »

Gonorrhea (also called "the clap"), caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is a public health problem and is the most common reportable infectious disease.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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