Gonorrhoea

Overview - Gonorrhoea

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In many cases, infection with gonorrhoea can be symptomless. When symptoms are observed, however, they may affect many body parts but usually occur in the genital tract.

Gonorrhoea affecting the genital tract

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhoea infection in males include:

• Pain during urination
• Discharge of pus from the penis
• Pain or swelling in one testicle

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhoea infection in females include:

• Increase of vaginal discharge
• Pain during urination
• Vaginal bleeding between periods, especially after vaginal sex (intercourse)
• Pain in the abdomen or pelvis


Gonorrhoea of other body parts

Gonorrhoea may affect these body parts as well:

• Rectum - Signs and symptoms comprise itching of the anus, discharge of pus from the rectum, bright red blood spots on toilet tissue and constipation.
• Eyes - If gonorrhoea affects the eyes, it may cause pain in the eyes, light sensitivity and purulent discharge from one or both eyes.
• Throat - Signs and symptoms of a throat infection may comprise of a sore throat and swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck.
• Joints - If one or more joints get infected by the gonorrhoeal bacteria, it causes septic arthritis in which case, the affected joints may be red, warm, swollen and extremely painful, particularly during movement.

Gonorrhoea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This bacteria is most frequently passed from one person to another through genital secretions during sexual contact, including anal, oral or vaginal sex (intercourse).

Other factors that may enhance the risk include:

• Making love to a stranger
• Making love to a person who has made love to other partners
• Making love to more than one person
• Having previously had gonorrhoea or some other sexually transmitted disease or infection

Gonorrhoea, if left untreated, may lead to some major complications, like:

• Female infertility - Gonorrhoea may affect the uterus and fallopian tubes, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID may cause infertility, fibrosis of the fallopian tubes and even increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. PID cannot be ignored, it needs immediate treatment.
• Infertility in men - Gonorrhoea may cause the epididymis (a small, coiled tube in the posterior portion of the testicles where the sperm ducts, "vasa deferentia" are located) to swell up, causing epididymitis. Epididymitis, if left untreated may lead to infertility.
• Infection which spreads to the joints and other body parts - The bacterium which causes gonorrhoea, "Neisseria gonorrhoeae" may spread through the bloodstream and infect other body parts, including the joints and cause fever, rashes, skin sores, pain in the joints, swelling and stiffness.
• Increased risk of HIV/AIDS - Gonorrhoea patients are more likely to get infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that leads to AIDS. People who have gonorrhoea as well as HIV are able to pass both diseases more easily to their sex partners.
• Complications in babies - Babies who get infected with gonorrhoea from their mothers during childbirth may become blindness and develop sores on the scalp and infections.