gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects both men and women equally where the bacteria grows and multiplies easily in the warm and moist mucous membranes of the body like the reproductive tract of the female body (cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes) and the urethra in both men and women; and also in the mouth and the throat and the anus.
Symptoms of Gonorrhoea
It is difficult to diagnose and assess when to intervene for treatment. In women, the symptoms are so mild that often they go unnoticed and they mistake the discharge for a yeast infection. The following are the crucial symptoms –
- Vaginal discharge which is greenish yellow or whitish in colour
- Pelvic or lower abdominal pain
- Burning sensation when passing urine
- Conjunctivitis or red and itchy eyes
- Bleeding between periods
- Spotting after intercourse
- Vulvitis which is swelling of the vulva
- Burning in the throat due to oral sex
- Swollen glands in the throat due to oral sex
In men, the symptoms take time to appear – usually after 5-7 days after infection. Some of the symptoms are the following –
- Penis discharge which is greenish yellow or whitish in colour
- Burning sensation while passing urine
- Swollen and painful testicles
- Burning sensation in the throat due to oral sex
- Swollen glands in the throat due to oral sex
Risks of Gonorrhoea
The common risk factors are
- Rampant and unsafe sex without condoms and protection
- Multiple sexual partners
- Sexual contact with infected partner
- Infected pregnant mother can pass infection to the unborn thereby raising complications that range from premature delivery, spontaneous abortion to blindness, joint infection or a fatal blood infection in the baby