Gonorrhoea Symptoms

After you have been infected, it will take around 2-7 days for the symptoms to start to appear. In some cases there will be mild symptoms that wont appear for up to a month after infection and in others there won’t be any symptoms at all. The symptoms you may experience will vary depending on the area that has been infected and how long the infection has been in that area. As the infection usually targets the reproductive tracts, there are different symptoms for men and women.

What are the symptoms for men?

Men usually display symptoms within a month from contracting the disease. Not all symptoms will be present but if you have any of these symptoms then it is best to get a consultation. These involve:


  • An inflamed prostate gland
  • Burning/pain during urination
  • The need to urinate more often
  • Needing to urinate more urgently
  • White/yellow/green discharge from the penis
  • Swollen testicles
  • Sore throat
  • Penis appears to be redder/tender
  • A rash will occur if the bacteria have entered the bloodstream.

What are the symptoms for women?

Women experience different symptoms to men if they experience symptoms at all. In some women, symptoms are not present which means that the infection can go untreated, leading to serious repercussions in the future. The symptoms that do occur include the following:

  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • An increased amount of vaginal discharge
  • Burning/pain during urination
  • The need to urinate is increased as well as the frequency of urination
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Bleeding in-between periods
  • If the infection is within the fallopian tubes then may experience pain within the lower abdomen.
  • Bleeding after sexual intercourse.
  • Genital itching
  • A rash will occur if the bacteria have entered the blood stream

If you are displaying some mild symptoms like these, in women they can easily be mistaken for another condition such as a bladder infection.

Where else can you get symptoms?

If you have had anal sex, you can also contract gonorrhoea and will be infected in a different way. The symptoms for this area include:

  • Bloody stool
  • Itching/general discomfort
  • Frequent pain during bowel movements

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