Title

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection. Not all people infected with gonorrhea have symptoms, so knowing when to seek treatment can be tricky. When symptoms do occur, they can include the following:

Symptoms in women
*    Greenish yellow or whitish discharge from the vagina
*    Lower abdominal or pelvic pain
*    Burning when urinating
*    Conjunctivitis (red, itchy eyes)
*    Bleeding between periods
*    Spotting after intercourse
*    Swelling of the vulva (vulvitis)
*    Burning in the throat (due to oral sex)
*    Swollen glands (due to oral sex)

In women, symptoms usually start about 21 days after infection, but often symptoms are so mild that they escape notice.

Many women with gonorrhea discharge think they have a yeast infection and self-treat with yeast infection medications purchased over-the-counter. Because vaginal discharge can be a sign of a number of different problems, including tumors, it is best to always seek the advice of a doctor to ensure proper diagnose and treatment.

Symptoms in men
*    Greenish yellow or whitish discharge from the penis
*    Burning when urinating
*    Burning in the throat (due to oral sex)
*    Swollen glands (due to oral sex)

In men, symptoms usually appear two to five days after infection, but it can take as long as 30 days for symptoms to begin.

Treatment

Gonorrhea can be treated and cured with an oral or injectable antibiotic.

Links

http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/4/1020
http://www.ashastd.org/stdfaqs/gonorrhea.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gonorrhea.html
http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/GonorrheaInfo.htm
http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/healthtips/BCD/Gonorrhea.htm