Symptoms of gonorrhea in men

Medically Reviewed by Dr Sravya, MBBS, MS

Introduction

About 0.6% of men suffer from gonorrhea. It’s also known as “the clap” or “drip.” The bacteria Neisseria gonorrheae bring about gonorrhea, it is a common sexually transmitted illness (STI). Gonorrhoea can be spread by sexual fluids such as vaginal fluid and sperm. Intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, or exchanging sex toys with an infected individual can all lead to gonorrhea. Symptoms of gonorrhea in men are not always present. This makes it easier to unintentionally infect your mates. Getting tested regularly, as recommended by your healthcare professional, and using safer sex practices will lower your chance of infection.

Frequently asked questions are “What are the gonorrhea symptoms in males?” What exactly is gonorrhea? What is the cause of gonorrhea? How can I tell if I have gonorrhea? How should gonorrhea be treated?

Table of Contents

What exactly is gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrheae.
Infections of the genitals, mouth, or rectum are possible. Infected men may have urine discomfort or burning, discharge from the penis, or testicular pain.
Many afflicted people, however, show no symptoms. gonorrhea can spread to joints or heart valves if left untreated.
Sexual interaction with an infected individual spreads gonorrhea. This covers both oral and anal sex as well as vaginal intercourse. It can also be passed from mother to kid at delivery.
Diagnosis is accomplished by testing urine and urethra in men. Annual testing of all sexually active men under the age of 25, as well as those with new sexual partners, is recommended.
Gonorrhea can be avoided by using condoms, having intercourse with only one uninfected person, and avoiding having sex at all. Typically, ceftriaxone is injected while azithromycin is taken orally. Many previously used antibiotics have acquired resistance, and greater doses of ceftriaxone are occasionally necessary. Three months following therapy and retesting is advised. Sexual partners over the previous two months should be addressed as well.
Gonorrhea affects about 0.8% of women and 0.6% of males. Each year, an estimated 33 to 106 million new cases of treatable STI, which also includes syphilis, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis, are diagnosed.

What is the cause of gonorrhea?

The bacteria Neisseria gonorrheae causes gonorrhea. Previous infection does not give immunity; a person who has been infected can get infected again by contact with an infected individual. Infected individuals may be able to infect others repeatedly while displaying no signs or symptoms of their own.

The virus is often passed from person to person by vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.
A single act of vaginal intercourse with an infected partner puts men at a 20% risk of contracting the virus. A single act of vaginal intercourse with an infected male puts women at a 60-80% probability of contracting the virus.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at a greater risk. Anal intercourse can cause a penile infection in insertional MSM, whereas anorectal gonorrhea in receptive MSM.
During childbirth, a mother may transfer gonorrhea to her newborn; when it affects the infant's eyes, it is known as ophthalmia neonatorum. It may spread through things contaminated with an infected person's bodily fluid. The bacterium does not usually live long outside the body, dying within minutes to hours.

Risk factors

It has been observed that sexually active men under the age of 25 and who have sex with men are more likely to have gonorrhea.

Other risk factors are:

What are the signs and gonorrhea symptoms in males?

Within 2 to 30 days of exposure, you may develop gonorrhea symptoms. However, symptoms may take many weeks to manifest, and you may not have any symptoms at all.

The first sign you may notice is burning or discomfort during urination.
Increased urine frequency or urgency, a pus-like discharge or trickle from your penis (this discharge may be yellow, white, beige, or greenish).
Itching and tenderness in your anus, discoloration and swelling at the penis entrance, testicular edema, or pain.
When having bowel motions, you may have rectal bleeding or discharge discomfort.

Gonorrhea can also affect the following areas of the body:

Rectum: Signs and symptoms include anal inflammation, pus-like discharge from the rectum, flecks of bright red blood on toilet tissue, and the urge to strain during bowel movements.
Eyes: Discomfort, sensitivity to light, and pus-like discharge from one or both eyes are all symptoms of ocular gonorrhea.
Throat: A painful throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck are signs and symptoms of a throat infection.
Joints: While one or more joints get infected with bacteria (septic arthritis), the afflicted joints may become heated, red, swollen, and intensely painful, especially while moving.

Complications due to gonorrhea are?

According to medical experts, untreated gonorrhea can lead to serious problems such as:

Male infertility: gonorrhea can inflame the epididymis, a tiny, coiled tube in the back of the testicles that houses the sperm ducts (epididymitis). Infertility can result from untreated epididymitis.
Infection that spreads to the joints and other body parts: The gonorrhea bacteria can move via the circulation and infect various regions of the body, including the joints. Fever, rash, skin sores, joint discomfort, edema, swelling and stiffness.
HIV/AIDS risk is increased: You are more susceptible to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, if you have gonorrhea. People who have both gonorrhea and HIV (and are not taking antiretroviral therapy) are more likely to infect their partners with both diseases.
Complications in newborns: Babies that get gonorrhea from their moms during childbirth might develop blindness, scalp sores, and infections.

How can I get to know if I have gonorrhea?

Culture is the most often used gonorrhea diagnostic test, followed by the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and ligand chain reaction (LCR).

The DNA probe test is an antigen detection test that employs the use of a probe to identify gonorrhea DNA in specimens.
The gold standard for diagnosis at all possible sites of gonococcal infection is a specific culture of a swab from the site of infection.
Cultures are especially valuable when the clinical diagnosis is ambiguous when therapy has failed, contact tracing is difficult, or when legal issues develop.
In patients suspected of having DGI, all feasible mucosal sites (e.g., throat, urethra, rectum), as well as blood and synovial fluid (in instances of septic arthritis), should be cultured.

How should gonorrhea be treated?

Antibiotics are frequently prescribed if:

You have gonorrhea, according to the results of the tests.
Even though your test results have not yet returned, there is a good possibility you have gonorrhea because your spouse has been diagnosed with gonorrhea.
The most common therapy is an antibiotic injection (typically in the buttocks or thighs). If you want, you can occasionally get an antibiotic pill instead of an injection.
If you have gonorrhea, your symptoms will normally improve within a few days. However, discomfort in your pelvis or testicles may take up to two weeks to entirely go.
A follow-up appointment a week or two following therapy is recommended.
To avoid reinfection or passing the virus on to others, you should avoid having sex until you and your partner have been treated and given the all-clear.
Consult your doctor or nurse if your symptoms do not improve after treatment or if you believe you have been infected again. You may require more testing or therapy to rule out other issues.

Sexual associates

Gonorrhea is easily transmitted through sexual intercourse. If you have HPV, anyone you've recently had sex with may have it as well.
You must test and treat your current and prior sexual partners.
Your local genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinic may be able to help by notifying any previous partners on your behalf.
A contact slip can be given to them, informing them that they may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted illness (STI) and recommending that they seek medical attention. Your confidentiality will be safeguarded because the slip will not include your name.

How can we prevent gonorrhea?

To lower your risk of gonorrhea, do the following:

Using condoms: If you're having sex, use a condom. The most effective strategy to avoid gonorrhea is to avoid sex. If you must have sex, wear a condom for any sort of sexual contact, including anal sex, oral sex, and vaginal intercourse.
Limit your sex partner: Limit the number of sex partners you have. Being in a monogamous relationship with no other partners can reduce your risk.
Test for SID in your partner: Check for sexually transmitted infections in both you and your partner. Before having sex, get tested and disclose your results.
Safe sex: Don't have sex with somebody who appears to be afflicted with a sexually transmitted disease. Don't have sex with somebody who has signs or symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, such as burning while urinating or a genital rash or pain.
Screening: Consider gonorrhea screening regularly. Men with a new sex partner, several sex partners, sex partners with other partners, or sex partners with a sexually transmitted infection are all included. Guys who have sex with other men, as well as their partners, should be examined regularly.

Summary

Gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrheae, can cause infections in the genitals, mouth, or rectum. It has the potential to produce problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease and epididymis inflammation. Untreated cases can spread to joints or heart valves. Diagnosis involves urine, urethra, or cervix testing in men and cervix testing in females. Prevention involves using condoms, intercourse with uninfected individuals, and avoiding sex. Treatment involves ceftriaxone injection or azithromycin orally, retesting three months after therapy, and addressing sexual partners over the past two months.