Gonorrhea Summary Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease. It is most common in young adults. The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can infect the genital tract, mouth, or anus. You can get gonorrhea during vaginal, oral, or anal sex with an infected partner. A pregnant woman can pass it to her baby during childbirth. Gonorrhea does not always cause symptoms. In men, gonorrhea can cause pain when urinating and discharge from the penis. If untreated, it can cause problems with the prostate and testicles. In women, the early symptoms of gonorrhea often are mild. Later, it can cause bleeding between periods, pain when urinating, and increased discharge from the vagina. If untreated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which causes problems with pregnancy and infertility. Your health care provider will diagnose gonorrhea with lab tests. Treatment is with antibiotics. Treating gonorrhea is becoming more difficult because drug-resistant strains are increasing. Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading gonorrhea. NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Specifics Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea (ARG) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Statistics and Research Antimicrobial (Drug) Resistance: Gonorrhea National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases NCHHSTP Atlas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance, 2012: Gonorrhea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Find an Expert Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Gonorrhea National Institutes of Health Patient Handouts Condom Fact Sheet in Brief Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Gonorrhea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Array Endocervical gram stain Gonococcal arthritis Gonorrhea Rectal culture Urethral discharge culture Related Issues Epididymitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Teenagers Gonorrhea Nemours Foundation Women Gonorrhea Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Pregnancy Complications: Gonorrhea March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Start Here Gonorrhea National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Gonorrhea Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Primary Gonorrhea Infection Logical Images Children Gonorrhea (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Diagnosis and Tests Gonorrhea Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Encyclopedia Gram stain of urethral discharge Prevention and Risk Factors Male Condoms Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Journal Articles Gonorrhea
