Symptoms

Risk Factor

Young adults 20 t0 40 years of age are at highest risk of acquiring gonorrhea, with the next highest rates found among teenagers 15 to 19 years of age. In fact, 1 of every 30 teenagers in this group will acquire gonorrhea each year.

Asymptomatic persons or those with few symptoms are an important reservoir for infection, because they are an important reservoir for infection, because they remain untreated. An approximate of 10 percent to 40 percent of gonorrheal infections in men is asymptomatic while in women as many as 80 percent of existing infections are asymptomatic. Homosexual men can harbor reservoirs of anorectal and pharyngeal infections.

Gonorrhea in Women

Gonorrhea in women most often begins as asymptomatic cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix), and the infection can be present for extended periods without causing noticeable signs. Hence, there are a high number of infected, asymptomatic women. These women do not receive treatment unless gonorrhea is diagnosed through screening or unless a sexual partner identifies the woman and presents herself for the treatment. Frequently, complications are the first main indicators of gonorrhea in women. Salpingitis is the most common complication, with 10 percent to 20 percent of women presenting themselves with symptoms of salpingitis as the first sign of gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea in Men

Men usually note symptoms 2 to 6 days following exposure to the gonococcus, although longer intervals are not uncommon. In perhaps 10 to 20 percent of males who become infected, symptoms never develop.

In men the pathogenic gonococcus is introduced into the anterior part of the urethra during sexual activity. Because most men are diagnosed and treated at early stage, complications and residual effects of gonorrhea are uncommon among men. The disease begins as an irritation of the urethral meatus with a clear mucous discharge. Within a day or two the discharge becomes profuse, thick and purulent. Its appearance is usually associated with a painful and burning sensation in the penis during urination. Inflammation in the tissues surrounding the urethra can make the penis red, swollen, and tender to touch. Sterility from orchitis can occur as a residual effect, but this a rare case.

Signs and Symptoms of Gonorrhea

Heterosexual Men

• Inflammation of the urethra (urethritis) – often manifested as the first symptom

• Severe dysuria (painful urination) – especially with first voiding in the morning

• Purulent discharge from urethra

• Swelling of the penis and balanitis – these are rare symptoms

Homosexual and Bisexual Men

• Rectal gonorrhea is very common– usually asymptomatic; usually revealed by doing diagnostic test such as rectal culture

• Pharyngeal gonorrhea- this is usually asymptomatic

Women

Women rarely have early, distressing symptoms such as men usually have. When symptoms are already existent, they include the following manifestations:

• Slight purulent vaginal discharge

• Vague feeling of fullness in the pelvis

• Discomfort of aching in abdomen

• If bladder is also involved – burning, frequency, and urgency, which usually cause the person to seek medical attention to healthcare professionals.

*The first three symptoms are usually so slight that they may be ignored by the person thus refusing to seek for medical treatment.