Other possible symptoms
Infection of the throat usually occurs after oral sex with an infected partner. Most of the time, a gonorrhea infection in the throat does not cause any symptoms, although it may cause a sore throat.
Gonorrhea can also cause “Pinkeye”, an inflammation of the eye known medically as conjunctivitis which causes pain, discharge and swelling of the eye. Conjunctivitis caused by gonorrhea bacteria is relatively rare, but it can occur if the eye gets into contact with the vaginal fluid or semen of an infected partner.
If gonorrhea is untreated, it can spread further into the reproductive system and in women may cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which can lead to chronic pelvic pain, miscarriages, premature labour and infertility. If you are pregnant, you can pass the infection to your baby, with serious consequences.
As the infection progresses, it can spread beyond the reproductive system and affect your joints, the skin, the blood and even your heart. It can also cause meningitis, which can be life-threatening. This condition is called disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). Patients with DGI can suffer from skin rash, arthritis and joint pain. The best way to prevent complications is to take a test after unprotected sex to ensure that any existing STI’s are diagnosed early. The test will reliably detect an infection two weeks after sex (or later).