Gonorrhea Symptoms in Women

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In the following article, we will outline the gonorrhea symptoms in women and highlight methods of diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of gonorrhea in women?

Usually, women infected with gonorrhea may not show symptoms compared to men, as men are more likely to experience symptoms. Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 men and 5 out of 10 women will only experience noticeable symptoms.

However, some women may experience a variety of symptoms, but they tend to be milder and less severe than those experienced by men. Here are the detailed symptoms of gonorrhea in women:

• Symptoms of Gonorrhea affecting the genital tract

Symptoms often appear in the genital area in women infected with gonorrhea, although they may appear in other parts of the body. The following are the symptoms of gonorrhea in women that affect the genital area:

1. Increased vaginal discharge, which may be thin or watery and creamy or greenish in color.
2. Pain during intercourse.
3. Bleeding after intercourse.
4. Bleeding between menstrual periods.
5. Pain and burning sensation during urination.
6. Frequent urge to urinate.
7. Itching, pain, and bleeding in the anal opening with discharge from the rectum.
8. Abdominal and pelvic pain.

• Symptoms of Gonorrhea at other sites in the body

Men and women may experience common symptoms if they contract gonorrhea in other parts of the body, such as the throat, rectum, eyes, or joints. The following are the prominent symptoms that may appear in those areas:

1. Rectal Gonorrhea: Infection in the rectum may cause anal itching, pain, bleeding, and discharge resembling pus from the anal opening.
2. Throat Gonorrhea: Continuous sore throat, redness of the throat, and swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck.
3. Eye Gonorrhea: Irritation, pain, swelling, and discharge (stringy white or yellow mucus) around the eyes, as well as sensitivity of the eyes to light.
4. Joint Gonorrhea: If one or more joints are infected, you may experience pain, warmth, redness, and swelling, known as septic arthritis.

When do symptoms appear after infection?

Symptoms of gonorrhea in women typically appear 1 - 10 days after infection, but sometimes they may not manifest until several months later, and for some, there may be no symptoms at all.

How is gonorrhea diagnosed?

Initially, the doctor begins by inquiring about the symptoms experienced by the individual in addition to their medical history, then may request one or more of the following tests to confirm the infection:

• A Urine Test: helps detect the presence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria or other types of bacteria in the urine.
• Swabbing affected areas: Another method to diagnose gonorrhea involves the doctor swabbing the vagina, cervix (or even the throat or rectum) to obtain a sample of the fluids in these areas for analysis and identification of bacteria.
• Blood tests: Sometimes, the doctor may request a blood sample to be cultured to detect gonorrhea infection.

The doctor may also recommend tests for other sexually transmitted diseases, as gonorrhea may increase the risk of other diseases, particularly chlamydia. Therefore, we advise you to undergo the Blazma STD Disease test package, which includes testing for 11 types of sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and syphilis. This test does not require any specific conditions or prior preparations to perform it.