What Is Gonorrhea?

You may have heard of gonorrhea, but many people are not sure what it is. Gonorrhea (gon-o-RHEE-a) is an infection caused by a kind of bacteria that is passed during sexual contact. It can infect the penis, anus, or throat. Sometimes it is called "the clap" or "the drip."

Gonorrhea can be a serious health risk if it is not treated. It affects about 600,000 people in the United States every year.

What Are the Symptoms of Gonorrhea?

Often, gonorrhea has no symptoms. Most people are not aware that they have the infection.

If you do get gonorrhea symptoms, they may begin in as little as 1–14 days after you got the infection.

When men have symptoms, they commonly experience

• pus-like discharge from the penis
• pain or burning feeling while urinating
• more frequent urination than usual

Gonorrhea may cause the anus to itch. It can also result in a discharge and painful bowel movements. Itching and soreness of the throat with trouble swallowing may be symptoms of an oral infection. Nine out of 10 oral infections show no symptoms at all.

Gonorrhea symptoms may only appear in the morning and may be mild, especially for men. That's why many people do not realize they have an infection. If you or your partner has any of the symptoms listed above, get checked by a health care provider. This is especially important if you are pregnant.

Complications of Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is easily treated, but when it is not treated, it can be a serious health threat for both women and men.

INFERTILITY

Gonorrhea can also make men infertile. It can spread from the urethra to the testicles. There, it can result in a condition called epididymitis. One in five men with an untreated gonorrhea infection develops epididymitis. Acute epididymitis can cause infertility. Symptoms include fever as well as swelling and extreme pain in the scrotum.