Gonorrhoea - Common Symptoms in Men

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial STD that can affect both men and women. It can be transmitted from one person to another through oral, vaginal or anal intercourse. A person who is already suffering from an STD is at a high risk of suffering from Gonorrhoea as well. This disease affects the eyes, throat, vagina, urethra, anus and female reproductive tract. Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics as long as it is diagnosed in time. In order to do so, it is essential to understand the symptoms of this disease.

Some people do not show any visible symptoms of gonorrhoea. This is known as nonsymptomatic Gonorrhoea. Even though there are no symptoms, these people can infect others through unprotected intercourse. However, in most cases, the symptoms of this STD can be seen in 2 to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria. These symptoms are different for men and women.

Men infected with this disease may not show symptoms for several weeks. Some of the symptoms of this disease as seen in men are:

1. Frequent urge to urinate
2. A burning or painful sensation while urinating
3. Pus-like discharge from the penis
4. Inflammation and redness of the tip of the penis
5. Swelling that may or may not be accompanied by pain in the testicles
6. Sore throat

In some cases, the pain may even spread to the rectum.
Gonorrhoea is more difficult to diagnose in women as the symptoms were shown are milder and tend to be similar to other infections. Some of the symptoms to look out for are:

1. Watery or creamy discharge from the vagina
2. Painful or burning sensation while urinating
3. Increased urge to urinate frequently
4. Heavier periods
5. Spotting in between periods
6. Sore throat
7. Painful intercourse
8. Pain in the lower abdomen
9. Fever

Gonorrhoea can be diagnosed with a simple blood test or by taking a sample swab from the infected area and subjecting it to lab tests. Once diagnosed, it can be treated with antibiotics. In some cases, an injection may also be required. It is important to complete the full course of antibiotics even if the symptoms disappear in a few days. As with any other STD, prevention is better than cure. To avoid suffering from this disease, always use a condom while having intercourse. If you have more than one partner, insist on getting tested regularly. This is extremely important as many cases of Gonorrhoea go undetected for the lack of symptoms shown. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a sexologist.