What is gonorrhea? H041 - Superbug (fr.) Is gonorrhea a common infection? How is gonorrhea spread? What are the symptoms of gonorrhea? Men and gonorrhea Women and gonorrhea Gonorrhea and pregnancy Gonorrhea and newborns How is Gonorrhea diagnosed? The test not painful! Is there a cure for gonorrhea? What if I don’t treat my gonorrhea? Is gonorrhea dangerous? Who is most likely to get gonorrhea? How can people with gonorrhea avoid spreading it? How can I avoid getting gonorrhea? What’s new? Links and References

When treated early, there are no long term consequences of gonorrhea. Serious complications can result, however, when left untreated.

Long term complications in men may include:

• Epididymitis - an inflammation of the testicles that can cause sterility
• Scarring and difficult urination of the urethra (penile canal)
• Prostatitis (infection of the prostate gland) — See Prostatitis section

Long term complications in women include:

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - an ascending infection that spreads from the vagina and cervix to the uterus and fallopian tubes. PID can lead to sterility — See section on PID
• Ovarian or tubal abscesses
• Ectopic pregnancy - a pregnancy outside of the uterus
• Perihepatitis - an infection around the liver
• Sterility (see PID)

Gonorrhea can also be transmitted to newborns during their passage through the vaginal canal at the time of delivery.

Approximately 2% of persons with untreated gonorrhea may develop an uncommon complication known as Disseminated Gonococcal Infection (DGI). This may be characterized by fever, skin lesions and arthritis type pain.