What are the Symptoms Of Gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea is a very common STD (in fact, the second most common in the UK!), which can cause serious health complications if left untreated. Whilst the infection doesn’t always present symptoms, you should know what to look out for if you’ve recently had unprotected sexual contact. 

Our resident Medical Director, Dr Rashid Bani, is here to help. So, what are the usual symptoms of gonorrhoea?

Symptoms of gonorrhoea typically include:

• Pain whilst urinating
• Unusual discharge which is green or yellow in colour
• Pain in the testicles (men) or in the lower abdominal region (women)
• Spotting between periods, or after sex
• Inflamed foreskin

Read on to learn more about how symptoms of gonorrhoea differ between men and women, how long the symptoms take to show up, and when you should get tested.

What Does Gonorrhoea Look Like On a Man?

In men, typical symptoms of a gonorrhoea infection include, but are not limited to:

• Pain whilst urinating
• Unusual discharge from the tip of the penis, which is thick and green/yellow in colour
• Swelling or irritation of the foreskin
• Pain or swelling in one or both testicles, although this is a rare symptom

How Long Does Gonorrhoea Take To Show in Males? 

In males, a gonorrhoea infection will usually take around two weeks to show any symptoms, but can be sooner. However, gonorrhoea is known for being asymptomatic, meaning many men won’t show symptoms for up to a month after a transmission, or sometimes even longer. 

According to the NHS, 1 in 10 men will not show symptoms of gonorrhoea, even if they have the infection, which is why it is so important to get tested after each new sexual partner.

What Does Gonorrhoea Look Like On a Woman?

Like men, women won’t always present gonorrhoea symptoms, but when they do, they might include one or a combination of:

• Pain whilst urinating
• Unusual discharge from the vagina, which is watery and green/yellow in colour
• Spotting, or bleeding after sex
• Pain in the lower abdomen, although this is a rare symptom

How Long Does Gonorrhoea Take To Show in Females?

If a woman is going to get any symptoms of gonorrhoea, they will become present around 7-10 days after unprotected sexual contact. However, for some women, this takes even longer, and 5 in 10 women will never show symptoms at all.

Learn more about how long it takes for symptoms of gonorrhoea to appear, if it all, in one of our helpful blogs: How Long Does Gonorrhoea Take To Show?

Gonorrhoea Symptoms in Other Areas Of the Body

The genital region isn’t the only area you can contract a gonorrhoea infection, nor is it the only place you may experience symptoms. With this in mind, here are some of the symptoms to look out for, depending on where they are found:

• Eyes – Gonorrhoea in the eyes usually presents symptoms much earlier compared to a genital infection (3-5 days, on average). Signs of an eye infection include swelling and pain in and around the eye, difficulty opening the eye, and redness.
• Mouth – Symptoms of oral gonorrhoea include difficulty swallowing, a persistent sore throat, as well as typical symptoms of a fever. Gonorrhoea in the mouth does have the ability to clear up on its own, without antibiotics. Learn more in one of our helpful blogs: What is Oral Gonorrhoea?
• Rectum/anus – Gonorrhoea in the anus can cause severe itching, pus-like discharge, and sometimes blood (which is usually spotted when wiping after a bowel movement).
• Joints – Whilst your joints can’t be the original site for a gonorrhoea infection, the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria can spread through the bloodstream to the joints, causing septic arthritis.

How Long After Gonorrhoea Symptoms Show Should You Get Tested?

If you’re experiencing any of the gonorrhoea symptoms that we mentioned above, you must get tested. However, testing too early after transmission could result in a false-negative test, which is why you need to wait at least 2 weeks before getting tested. You must abstain from sexual contact whilst you are waiting for a test to avoid passing the STD onto someone else. 

It is important to note that gonorrhoea doesn’t always present symptoms. So if you’ve had unprotected sex recently, or if a previous sexual partner tests positive, you must get tested also.

Getting a positive diagnosis for a gonorrhoea infection isn’t the end of the world! If you’d like to learn more about the next steps, read our helpful blog: Is Gonorrhoea Curable?

Reliable STD Testing From Your Sexual Health

If you’re experiencing symptoms of gonorrhoea, or you’ve had unprotected sex, you must get checked for STDs. At Your Sexual Health, we’re the UK’s number one provider of private sexual health tests. With over 150+ clinics up and down the UK, as well as postal tests and a home visit service, you won’t find a more convenient way to stay safe. 

If you’re worried about a potential infection, you might find our Dedicated Gonorrhoea Advice Page helpful. Alternatively, get in touch with our friendly team – we’d be happy to help!