Gonorrhea screening: The Key to Early Diagnosis

Gonorrhea is no joke of a disease. Caused by the bacteria neisseria gonorrhoeae, this STD can be very painful and has the potential to seriously affect the reproductive system and other parts of the body if left unchecked. Clearly, it's very important to be able to recognize its symptoms before they have the chance to wreak havoc with you or your intimate partner's body. This knowledge, combined with regular gonorrhea testing for sexually active adults, can help to stem the spread of the uncomfortable disease. If gonorrhea is detected early enough, the worst of its effects can be prevented and its symptoms can be eliminated without any lasting damage. You should arm yourself with this knowledge and be prepared for anything by getting tested at a reliable clinic.

Symptoms from gonorrhea show up relatively quickly, usually within four to six days of infection. These symptoms vary by gender, but either sex is at risk for carrying and suffering from the disease.

The Warning Signs for Women

Half of the women who contract gonorrhea remain asymptomatic. Of those showing symptoms, the common culprits are bleeding during vaginal sex, sharp pain or burning while urinating, and/or a discolored or bloody vaginal discharge. There's also a risk of irregular menstruation, lower abdominal pain, and genital itching as the disease progresses to its advanced stages. Female symptoms can be very mild, which is dangerous because it could lead you to mistake a gonorrhea infection for a bladder infection or other, less serious diseases. Make no mistake: don't leave diagnosis to your judgment! If and when these symptoms first show up, leave it to the experts and ask for gonorrhea testing. Early diagnosis can mean a complete recovery with no lasting effects.

The Warning Signs for Men

Symptoms are typically much more obvious for men, though no less annoying; be aware that a small portion of men remain asymptomatic, as well. Early warning symptoms in the male anatomy include discharge from the penis (clear, yellow, or even bloody) and/or sharp pain in the urethra (especially when urinating).

Definitely let your doctor know if you regularly practice oral sex or receptive anal sex. These can affect your gonorrhea testing and treatment plans, and may also lead to additional symptoms for both genders, including anal discharge, anal bleeding, or a sore throat.

Why Early Diagnosis Matters

It's much easier and cheaper for an STD clinic to administer a gonorrhea test and prescribe antibiotics in the early stages of the disease than it is for you to handle late-stage complications, especially if you are pregnant. If you have only lived with the disease for a few days, your body is naturally resilient enough to bring you back to normal after the course of medication is through. On the other hand, untreated gonorrhea can and does lead to skin lesions, forms of arthritis, infertility, or even blindness. Also, keep in mind that having one STD like gonorrhea puts you at dramatically increased risk for contracting other STDs, like HIV or Chlamydia.

The only proven methods of preventing gonorrhea are abstinence (unlikely) or mutually monogamous sex with a clean partner (fairly likely). Using a condom in the prescribed manner also goes a long way towards preventing gonorrhea infection. Still, you can't know everything, and sometimes unexpected developments can lead to unwanted diseases. With this in mind, knowing the warning signs truly is the key to early diagnosis and successful management of gonorrhea. You shouldn't wait for them to go away on their own—which, by the way, isn't an indicator that you no longer have the disease—and you shouldn't hesitate if you or your friends show these symptoms. Even if you don't have symptoms, it's highly recommended that you get yourself tested regularly as part of your routine healthcare.