Infection of the throat can occur following oral-genital sex with an infected partner. In the throat, gonorrhea may cause a sore throat. When left untreated, gonorrhea can increase the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV , the virus that causes AIDS . It may cause permanent damage to the woman's reproductive organs and can lead to infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. In men, untreated gonorrhea can affect the testicles, leading to swelling and pain.
Related complications can lead to infertility.
Gonorrhea can be passed from mother to baby during birth, infecting the baby's eyes. Without prompt treatment, the infant's eyes can be seriously and permanently damaged. There are a variety of laboratory tests that can be used to diagnose gonorrhea. Tests are done with either a urine sample or a sample obtained from a woman's cervix or a man's urethra, using a cotton swab. If rectal or throat infection is suspected, samples may also be taken from these sites.