Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsComplications for WomenComplications for MenShort-Term SymptomsPreventionTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Complications for Women
Complications for Men
Short-Term Symptoms
Prevention
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Untreated gonorrhea can cause a host of health complications, some of which can be long term. Although long-term effects vary, anyone of any sex can develop disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI), which occurs when the infection spreads to the bloodstream.
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A serious complication of untreated gonorrhea for women ispelvic inflammatory disease (PID).PID is an infection of the fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix.
If PID is not addressed, it can cause permanent damage to the reproductive tract, in turn resulting in possible infertility and chronic pelvic pain.
Complications of untreated gonorrhea for men includeepididymitis, which causes inflammation of theepididymis.Symptoms of epididymitis include fever, scrotal pain, and swelling.
Gonorrhea often presents without symptoms. If a person does experiencesymptomsfrom gonorrhea, they’ll appear in one day to two weeks after exposure.
For men, short-term symptoms include:
For women, short-term symptoms include:
Preventing Gonorrhea
To prevent gonorrhea, the CDC recommends:
Gonorrhea is most commonlytreatedwith antibiotics. However, increasing antibiotic resistance means they’re becoming less effective against gonorrhea.
In 2021, the CDC updated its STI treatment guidelines, recommending a single intramuscular dose ofceftriaxoneto address antibiotic resistance concerns in gonorrhea cases. The exact dosage of medication depends on a person’s weight.
In 2020, 677,769 cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), making it the second most common STI that year.However, the number of gonorrhea infections may be higher than reported because many cases of gonorrhea areasymptomatic, meaning people do not know they are infected.This is why regular STI testing is so important.
In 2020, 677,769 cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), making it the second most common STI that year.
However, the number of gonorrhea infections may be higher than reported because many cases of gonorrhea areasymptomatic, meaning people do not know they are infected.This is why regular STI testing is so important.
Summing It Up
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhile gonorrhea often has no symptoms, damage from this STI can still occur. Complications from untreated gonorrhea include pelvic inflammatory disease or epididymitis. Early treatment can help prevent such complications.No. Gonorrhea is most often asymptomatic. If symptomsareto appear, they will show up within one to 14 days following exposure. However, because most infections present without symptoms, complications due to the infection may appear years later.
While gonorrhea often has no symptoms, damage from this STI can still occur. Complications from untreated gonorrhea include pelvic inflammatory disease or epididymitis. Early treatment can help prevent such complications.
No. Gonorrhea is most often asymptomatic. If symptomsareto appear, they will show up within one to 14 days following exposure. However, because most infections present without symptoms, complications due to the infection may appear years later.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Health alert template for disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI).Stanford Health Care.Complications from gonorrhea.Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.Gonorrhea.Tshokey T, Tshering T, Pradhan AR, et al.Antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoea and treatment outcomes of gonococcal urethritis suspected patients in two large hospitals in Bhutan, 2015.PLOS ONE. 2018;13(8):e0201721.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections surveillance 2022.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Health alert template for disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI).Stanford Health Care.Complications from gonorrhea.Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.Gonorrhea.Tshokey T, Tshering T, Pradhan AR, et al.Antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoea and treatment outcomes of gonococcal urethritis suspected patients in two large hospitals in Bhutan, 2015.PLOS ONE. 2018;13(8):e0201721.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections surveillance 2022.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Health alert template for disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI).Stanford Health Care.Complications from gonorrhea.Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.Gonorrhea.Tshokey T, Tshering T, Pradhan AR, et al.Antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoea and treatment outcomes of gonococcal urethritis suspected patients in two large hospitals in Bhutan, 2015.PLOS ONE. 2018;13(8):e0201721.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections surveillance 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Health alert template for disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI).
Stanford Health Care.Complications from gonorrhea.
Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.Gonorrhea.
Tshokey T, Tshering T, Pradhan AR, et al.Antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoea and treatment outcomes of gonococcal urethritis suspected patients in two large hospitals in Bhutan, 2015.PLOS ONE. 2018;13(8):e0201721.
Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections surveillance 2022.
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