Gonorrhea Symptoms – STI Symptoms & Signs

Last Updated on July 29, 2021 by Nancy Carteron, MD, FACR

4 out of 5 people with vulvas/vaginas and 1 out of 10 people with penises with gonorrhea have no STI symptoms.

They may be completely unaware that they have contracting the infection, and therefore do not seek treatment.

This increases the risk of complications and the chances of passing the infection on to another person.

Symptoms are similar to those of chlamydia (it is common to have these infections at the same time) and when symptoms do present, they usually show up between 2 and 10 days after sexual contact. However, in people with penises, symptoms may take up to a month to appear. Although most people with vulvas/vagins who have gonorrhea will remain asymptomatic (without symptoms), those who do develop noticeable symptoms usually do so within 10 days of infection.

Symptoms may also only appear in the morning and may be mild, especially for people with penises. That’s why many people do not realize they have an infection. Infections in the throat in particular, and also in the cervix and rectum, often cause no symptoms at all.

Gonorrhea infections in the urethra are most likely to cause symptoms.

STI Masterclass: Breaking Through the Fear, Shame, and Stigma of an STI Diagnosis

If you’re fed up with feeling unworthy, less-than, damaged, or limited by your STI, then join the next cohort in the 60-Day Masterclass, and leave feeling empowered, knowledgable, and confident again!

Click Here to Learn More

Gonorrhea Symptoms in People with Penises:

• Burning or pain when urinating
• Abnormal fluid discharge from the penis (white, yellow, or green in color)
• Swelling and/or redness around the urethra
• Slight fever
• Need to urinate more often
• Itching or tingling feeling inside the penis
• Pain, swelling, or tender testicles
• Increased urinary frequency or urgency
• Red or swollen opening of penis

Gonorrhea Symptoms in People with Vulvas/Vaginas:

• Burning or pain when urinating
• Increased fluid discharge from the vagina
• Slight fever
• Need to urinate more often
• Change in the period or a more painful period
• Bleeding or spotting between periods
• Pain during or after sex
• Pain in the lower stomach area
• Severe pain in lower abdomen
• Menstrual irregularities
• Swelling or tenderness of the vulva
• Throwing up
• Yellowish or yellow-green vaginal discharge

When the infection spreads to the fallopian tubes, some people still have no signs or symptoms. Others may experience one or more of the following symptoms, which can be an indication that the infection has progressed to pelvic inflammatory disease: lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, pain during intercourse, bleeding between menstrual periods, nausea, and fever.

Gonorrhea Symptoms in All People:

• Sore throat
• Itching and redness around the rectum
• Discharge from the anus or mucous in the stools
• Slight fever
• Rectal pain
• Painful bowel movements
• Sores around anus
• Constipation
• Frequent need to urinate
• Pain when urinating
• In rare cases, lower stomach pain

Additional Symptoms:

If the infection spreads to the bloodstream, fever, rash, and arthritis-like symptoms may occur.

If gonorrhea infects the eye, people might experience conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eyelid lining). Symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, itching, and discharge from the eye.

The most common symptoms in newborns include conjunctivitis and pneumonia, which usually develop 5 to 12 days after birth.

• Gonorrhea Briefs
• Gonorrhea In-Depth
• STI Symptoms
• Pictures of Gonorrhea
• STI Testing Centers
• List of All STIs/STDs
• Activities That Put You At Risk
• STIs in People with Penises
• STIs in People with Vulvas/Vaginas