What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?

Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
Updated on March 19, 2025
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Gonorrhea is mainly a type of infectious skin disease caused by infection with gonococcus. Symptoms of gonorrhea differ between men and women, with men generally presenting more obvious symptoms. Typically, men show early symptoms of gonorrhea about a week after infection with gonococcus, including purulent discharge at the urethral opening, accompanied by symptoms such as frequent urination, urgent urination, and painful urination. In women, gonorrhea usually manifests as cervicitis, with purulent or bloody discharge from the vagina. Many women do not notice early symptoms of gonorrhea, which if ignored can lead to delays in treatment and may result in gonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease. Severe cases can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancies. If gonorrhea is suspected, it is important to visit a reputable hospital and undergo treatment with antibiotics under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Zhai Yu Juan
Dermatology Department
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Gonorrhea infection route

Gonorrhea is primarily a sexually transmitted disease caused by infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. The main transmission routes include sexual contact, close living contact such as sharing bathtubs and toilet seats, and mother-to-child transmission. After infection, the symptoms of gonorrhea differ between males and females. Males typically exhibit signs of acute urethritis, characterized by urethral pain and discharge; females, on the other hand, generally show no symptoms, or only mild signs of cervical inflammation.

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Written by Zhai Yu Juan
Dermatology Department
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There are several ways to transmit gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the infection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, primarily characterized by acute purulent infections of the urogenital tract. The main transmission route of gonorrhea is through sexual contact, followed by mother-to-child transmission, blood transmission, and close living contact transmission, which can also spread gonorrhea. Since Neisseria gonorrhoeae has very poor viability outside the human body, common disinfectants can deactivate it, and the main transmission mode of gonorrhea is still primarily through the classic route of sexual contact.

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Written by Luo Hong
Dermatology Department
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Gonorrhea testing methods

The methods for detecting gonorrhea generally fall into two main categories. One involves testing for the pathogen of gonorrhea. A simple method is the microscopic examination of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which can be seen under a microscope as Gram-negative diplococci. Another method is the cultivation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, although culturing with medication can occasionally result in false negatives. A more advanced and accurate method is PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), which involves using a urethral swab to detect the DNA of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Currently, this is considered the most sensitive and accurate method available.

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Written by Luo Hong
Dermatology Department
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What should you avoid eating if you have gonorrhea?

Actually, the dietary restrictions for gonorrhea are not very special and are quite similar to those of general diseases. For gonorrhea, one should not drink alcohol, try to avoid staying up late, and avoid overly spicy and stimulating foods, such as extremely spicy dishes, hot pots, and fried foods. The diet should be as bland as possible. Of course, if we consider one's own resistance, it is possible to make some soup and eat some good chicken soup, which can also improve one's resistance.

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
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What causes asymptomatic gonorrhea?

Most patients with gonorrhea have clinical manifestations, and only a few with mild or chronic infections may not exhibit obvious symptoms. Gonorrhea is caused by an infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, commonly known as gonococcus. It primarily manifests as a purulent infection of the urinary and reproductive systems, and can also lead to pharyngeal, rectal, and disseminated gonococcal infections. It has a short incubation period, is highly contagious, and can lead to various complications and sequelae. Gonorrhea is mainly transmitted through sexual contact, with the patient being the source of infection. In rare cases, it can be contracted through contact with secretions containing gonococci or contaminated items, such as clothing, bedding, towels, bathtubs, and toilet seats. Females, including young girls, due to the short length of the urethra and genitalia, are easily infected. It is often through shared family use of bath items and towels that infection occurs. Newborns can be infected through the birth canal of a mother with gonorrhea, leading to neonatal gonococcal conjunctivitis. Pregnant women infected with gonorrhea may transmit the bacteria to the amniotic fluid, potentially infecting the fetus.