Indeed, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect many people in the world, and one of the most common infections diagnosed globally is gonorrhea. Currently, it is estimated that millions of individuals have been infected with gonorrhea each year, but most people may not even suspect that they are carriers. This could be due to a lack of visible symptoms in early signs of gonorrhea, which makes it more crucial to go for gonorrhea testing regularly. It also helps one to discover if there is an infection before it causes permanent damage.
If untreated, it can develop into medically very serious long-term complications like infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or even disseminated gonorrhea. Thus, one should be taking a proactive approach to sexual health and getting tested, particularly through an avenue that is sexually active or thinks they could be at risk of acquiring the infection. We will discuss in this blog gonorrhea symptoms, its transmission, and why it is critical that testing be encouraged for the sake of your health and your partner’s health.
What is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This bacterium primarily affects the genital tract but can also infect the throat, eyes, and rectum. Gonorrhea is, more often than not, referred to as a “silent” infection owing to the fact that it is not always associated with visible symptoms, thus making it possible for one to carry and spread the bacteria without knowing.
The fact that many infected individuals may not be aware that they have the disease has also led to the gonorrhea infection being very widely spread. Even though they have symptoms, gonorrhea may cause long-term physical complications, especially in women. Serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may arise in these untreated women, affecting their fertility. In men, gonorrhea could narrow down to infection in the testicles, which is epididymitis and can also lead to infertility.
7 Symptoms of Gonorrhea to Get Tested
Here are seven common symptoms to be aware of:
- Painful Urination
One of the predominant, if not the most common, early signs of gonorrhea is a painful or burning sensation while urinating. This discomfort can occur in both men and women and usually causes them to seek medical attention. You need to get a check-up if the sensation is associated with any pain or requires a constant urge to urinate.
- Unusual Discharge
In men, gonorrhea might make the penis develop a thick yellow-green discharge, often continuing without cessation and being irritable. A woman might experience abnormal yellowish discharge, which can also be white, green, or a combination of the three, and may smell obvious. If you notice an irregular discharge, you should make an effort to undergo a gonorrhea test.
- Pelvic or Abdominal Pain
In women, pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen caused by gonorrhea tends to be associated with damage to the reproductive tract. The pain may be similar to that of menstrual cramps or other conditions, but if it persists, it may indicate gonorrhea. It is also possible for men to experience some degree of stomach discomfort with the infection.
- Bleeding Between Periods
Gonorrhea may show up in women with unusual bleeding patterns, such as spotting. This may indicate that there is an infection in the cervix or uterus. Any irregular, especially between periods, bleeding sensitizes one to go for a gonorrhea test.
- Rectal Symptoms
Gonorrhea can infect the rectum, leading to varying symptoms, including pain, discharge, and even blood, with particularly intense symptoms after defecation. If you have engaged in unprotected anal intercourse, it is advisable to remain on guard and get tested should there be any discomfort or unusual symptoms around your rectal area.
- Sore Throat
Gonorrhea can be contracted orally, causing a sore throat accompanied by difficulty swallowing. The sore throat may just seem like any other viral infection, but with this one, the tissue is also likely to be infected with gonorrhea. Most people who practice oral sex would note a significant sore throat, and it would be time to get an STD test ruling out gonorrhea.
- Testicular or Scrotal Pain
There are instances when men acquire gonorrhea, and it usually causes pain or swelling of the testicles due to a complication known as epididymitis. The end result is pain and sometimes damage to sexual performance. Swelling or unusual pain in the testicles or the scrotum is worth checking.
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Why Should You Get Tested?
There are good reasons why you should get tested for gonorrhea even when not showing any signs. The most obvious reason is that if found early on, effective antibiotic treatment can eradicate the infection from the system and thus the onset of complications shut out. The long-term effects of gonorrhea may include infertility in men and women and other very serious health problems.
It has also been assumed that the majority of patients with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms or signs. That’s why screening regularly is so important. Without testing, you could spread the disease unknowingly to others – worsening one of the major public health problems of our time. In addition, untreated gonorrhea could spread to other sites of the body, where it can also cause severe particular or articular diseases.
Everyone needs regular testing for peace of mind and reassurance. Someone who is sexually active, not just with several partners but also without protection, must always get tested regularly so he or she will know if there are any health drawbacks and what to do to go about with it without transmitting it to others. Some healthcare clinics will keep it all anonymous, offering confidential and discreet testing for gonorrhea, the easiest way of keeping active with your sexual health.
The Final Words
Looking after your sexual health keeps you living a healthy life, and gonorrhea testing is simple and effective to keep yourself and your partner safe in case of possible health risks. If you have experienced even mild signs of infection or had unprotected sex, you shouldn’t hesitate to get yourself tested. Getting tested quickly means that treatment if needed, can also start quickly, and you will minimize the risk of serious complications in the future.
