Gonorrhea is a treatable sexually transmitted infection (STI) that’s passed from individual to individual through various types of unprotected sexual contact. When an individual contracts gonorrhea, they could experience symptoms corresponding to pain or a burning sensation during urination or discharge from the vagina or penis.
An early gonorrhea infection may not present with any physical symptoms. If it does, the visual symptoms typically include redness, genital swelling, and discharge. In some cases, it may possibly also result in skin rashes.
This article discusses the symptoms of gonorrhea, including pictures of the visual look of gonorrhea.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related concepts, but they are usually not the identical. To reflect our sources accurately, this text uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” because the sources use them.
Gonorrhea Symptoms in Pictures
There are different visual symptoms related to gonorrhea. They can develop through the initial onset of symptoms or because the infection progresses after being left untreated. They include:
A Word From Verywell
Practicing safer sex as the first safety measure against contracting gonorrhea is most vital. This includes using latex condoms accurately each time you engage in sexual intercourse. Regular screenings for STIs, particularly if you happen to are sexually lively with multiple partners, are also crucial. Limiting your variety of sexual partners and abstaining from sex may significantly reduce your risk.
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Discharge
Discharge is essentially the most notable visual sign of gonorrhea. The discharge might be watery, creamy, or green in color if you might have a vagina. If you might have a penis, the discharge might be white, yellow, or green.
Skin Rash
If the gonorrhea bacterium spreads through the bloodstream to other areas of the body, it may possibly result in skin rashes. The rashes can appear:
- Red
- Similar to hives
- Discolored areas of the skin which can be lighter or darker than the skin tone or pink or red
- Small bumps which can be crammed with pus, clear fluid, or blood
- Inverted rash that develops as a small inward opening just like a bellybutton
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet and ©Te Whatu Ora Waikato dermnetnz.org 2023.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet dermnetnz.org 2023.
How Common Is a Gonorrhea Skin Rash?
Gonorrhea skin rashes develop when the infection spreads or becomes disseminated. It is rare and typically only affects roughly 0.5% to three% of individuals with the infection.
Gonococcal Conjunctivitis
In some cases, you’ll be able to develop gonorrhea of the eyes if you happen to touch your eyes after touching an infected area, resulting in gonococcal conjunctivitis (pink eye). Symptoms of eye gonorrhea can include:
- Pain, irritation, or tenderness of the eyes
- Swelling of the eyelids
- Inflammation and redness
- White or yellow mucus across the eye
- Swelling of the lymph nodes near the eyes (preauricular lymphadenopathy)
How Common Is Gonococcal Conjunctivitis?
While historically considered rare, gonococcal conjunctivitis cases have increased lately. The incidence rate is roughly 0.19 cases per 1,000 patients with gonorrhea infection.
Location
Anyone of any gender can get gonorrhea within the genital and anal areas, in addition to within the throat and oral cavity. In rarer cases, the attention may also be affected.
The symptoms will differ depending on the sex of the one that has contracted gonorrhea, in addition to what area of the body is affected by the infection.
UTI/Yeast Infection Symptoms and Gonorrhea
A urinary tract infection (UTI) or yeast infection can present symptoms just like gonorrhea. Some overlapping symptoms include:
- Pain during urination
- Vaginal discharge
- A must urinate more regularly
- Itchiness, redness, or irritation within the genital area
Onset of Symptoms
While some people could also be asymptomatic with gonorrhea, the vast majority of males and half of all females who contract the infection will develop symptoms. They can include:
- Pain, burning, or stinging during urination
- White, yellow, or green discharge from the vagina or urethra
- Anal itching, discharge, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements if situated within the anal area
- Sore throat, inflammation and redness, or swollen lymph nodes within the neck if situated within the throat
Symptoms might also differ depending on whether you might have a vagina or a penis. Penile symptoms of gonorrhea can include:
- An increased frequency of urination
- Discoloration on the opening of the penis
- Testicular swelling or pain
Vaginal symptoms of gonorrhea can include:
Asymptomatic Gonorrhea
Roughly 50% of ladies and 10% of men don’t develop symptoms once they contract gonorrhea.
Appearance
Gonorrhea doesn’t typically present with any visual characteristics. However, it may possibly result in swelling and redness within the genital or anal areas, the eyes if the infection spreads to the eyes, and a skin rash.
A skin rash can develop in gonorrhea if the infection spreads from the initial entry site through the bloodstream to other body areas, including the inner organs. These infections affect the complete body quite than one area and are known as disseminated infections.
The skin lesions attributable to a gonorrhea infection might be:
- Microabscesses: Accumulations of pus underneath the skin
- Macules: Discolored areas of the skin that may appear lighter or darker than your skin tone or pink or red
- Papules: Small dome-like bumps with flat tops, or appear inward just like a navel (belly button)
- Pustules: Small skin growths crammed with pus
- Vesicles: Small blister-like bumps that contain clear fluid
- Hemorrhagic: Blister-like bumps containing blood
- Erythema: Red sections of skin
- Urticaria: Hives
Sensations
The rash related to gonorrhea may present with various sensations, including:
- Itchiness
- Burning or irritation
- Pain, soreness, or tenderness
How Gonorrhea Doesn’t Look
Gonorrhea could have some visual characteristics, but it is going to not present the identical as other STIs when it comes to the way it looks. Other STIs often have more notable appearances, including:
- Herpes: One bump or a cluster of bumps that appear just like fluid-filled blisters
- Syphilis: Development of chancre sores on the infected area
- Scabies: Small, pink bumps, blisters, or scales resembling pimples or an pimples breakout
How to Get Tested for Gonorrhea
Typically, diagnosing gonorrhea involves an easy urine test. A healthcare provider might also need to collect samples using a swab from the suspected infected area, corresponding to the rectum or throat. Swabs might also be collected from contained in the urethra or the cervix.
Gonorrhea Treatment
Gonorrhea might be cured with antibiotics. However, some bacterial strains of the infection have gotten proof against these medications, often known as antibiotic resistance, and may’t kill them. This makes antibiotics ineffective at treating certain infections.
Since the bacterium that causes gonorrhea can evade certain antibiotics, adhering to safer sexual practices can assist you to avoid contracting an infection that might be difficult to treat.
Summary
Gonorrhea is a typical STI that’s transmitted through penile–vaginal intercourse, oral and anal sex, and in some cases, through touching the infection after which touching your eye. Although not everyone with gonorrhea will develop symptoms, many do. The visual symptoms of gonorrhea can include discharge, irritation or redness, and swelling of the vagina or testicles, discoloration of the penis, and a rash.
Gonorrhea rashes may present in a different way in everyone, so it’s crucial to pay attention to all symptoms. If you do develop a rash, see a healthcare provider. Gonorrhea is curable with antibiotics, and the faster you treat it, the better it is going to be to forestall potential complications.
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