Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Debra Houry, MD, MPH

Debra Houry, MD, MPH

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, 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

Symptoms may appear within 2 to 10 days after exposure to an infected person-even longer for women (up to 3 weeks).

Gonorrhea Symptoms in Women

• It is important to note that infected women have no symptoms in 30% to 40% of cases. Thus it is possible to be infected with gonorrhea and not know about the infection.
  
  
• Gonorrhea may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (a serious medical condition that can lead to infertility).
  
  
• Infection and irritation of the cervix
  
  
• The need to urinate often
  
  
• Itching and burning of the vagina, usually with a thick yellow/green discharge
  
  
• Infection and irritation of the vagina (this is how the infection usually appears in children who may be victims of incest)
  
  
• Bleeding between menstrual periods
  

Gonorrhea Symptoms in Men

• Pain or burning during urination in most men
  
  
• Thick, yellow penile discharge 50% of the time
  
  
• Inflammation or infection of a duct in the testicles
  
  

• Infection or inflammation of the prostate gland

Gonorrhea Symptoms in Newborns

• Irritation of the mucous membranes in the eyes (if not treated, can cause blindness)

Oral and Rectal Gonorrhea Symptoms

• Gonococcal throat infection should be considered in people who complain of sore throat and have other signs of gonococcal infection. Throat infections from gonorrhea are transmitted through oral sex, but occur without any other symptoms in less than 5% of individuals infected with gonorrhea.
  
  
• Rectal pain or discharge can be a sign of infection of the prostate and is transmitted through anal intercourse.