Symptoms Of Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is an equal opportunity infection that can be contracted by men or women. The sexually transmitted bacterium can affect the throat, rectum, or urethra. A woman's cervix can also be affected by gonorrhea.
The vast majority of people get gonorrhea through sexual intercourse. However, there is another way to contract this infection. Women who are pregnant can transmit gonorrhea to their babies. When this happens, it is usual for the baby's eyes to be affected.
Even though the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that some 700,000 people in the United States get gonorrhea every year, many people aren't aware they have the disease. There are two ways to prevent gonorrhea: you can abstain from sexual relations, or if you choose to have sex, you can use a condom. If you decide to use condoms, make sure you use them the correct way, and use them every single time you have sex.
Male Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of gonorrhea may not be very noticeable. Symptoms in men include:
*Discharge from the tip of the penis that looks like pus
*Swelling or even pain in just one testicle
*Painful urination
Female Symptoms
When gonorrhea affects a woman's cervix or urethra, her symptoms may include:
*More vaginal discharge than is usual
*Painful urination
*Bleeding between menstrual periods, for instance, after vaginal intercourse takes place
*Pelvic pain
*Abdominal pain
When gonorrhea affects the rectum, the symptoms may include:
*Straining during bowel movements
*Blood spots on the toilet paper
*A discharge from the rectum resembling pus
*Anal itching
When gonorrhea affects the eyes, the symptoms may include:
*Photosensitivity (sensitivity to light)
*Discharge from the eye that resembles pus
*Eye pain
When gonorrhea affects the throat, the symptoms may include:
*Swollen lymph nodes (glands)
*Sore throat
Painful Urination
Of course, if you have any unusual symptoms, you should always see your physician. But in general, if you have burning when you urinate, or there is a pus-like discharge from your rectum, vagina, or penis, you may be suffering from gonorrhea and it's important to make an appointment with your doctor right away.
Another good reason to see your doctor is if you should discover that your partner has been diagnosed with the condition. While you may not be experiencing symptoms, you can pass the infection back to your partner, even after he or she has undergone treatment for gonorrhea.
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