The early signs and symptoms of gonorrhea can be be difficult to
spot. The likelihood of developing symptoms partially depends on your
gender. Infected men are more likely to encounter symptoms than women.
Gonorrhea symptoms are very similar to the symptoms caused by other STIs
(for example discharge and a burning sensation when peeing).
The majority of infected women won’t suffer from any symptoms but the
infection can cause great damage to the reproductive system and lead to
infertility, miscarriage and stillbirth.
What are the early symptoms of gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that can potentially
affect any membrane of your body – from the genitals to the rectum and
the eyes. The infection is transmitted during vaginal, anal and oral
sex, but infected mothers can also pass the infection on to their babies
during childbirth. The STI is most common in people between the ages of
15-30, who are sexually active and have more than one partner a year.
Make sure you use a condom every time you have sex to avoid unnecessary
risks. If you’re in a monogamous relationship, you should make sure that
both of you have been screened for STIs before having unprotected sex. A
short antibiotic course can clear the infection very quickly, so don’t
hesitate to get tested and treated to avoid complications (such as
infertility and the infection spreading to other parts of the body) in
the future.
