Causes Despite the myths about doorknobs and toilet seats, gonorrhea is nearly always transmitted by direct sexual contact with an infected person, i.e. during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. The disease is highly contagious and easily transmitted, and many women go months without knowing they are infected. Symptoms Sometimes, symptoms are mild and can go unnoticed. Women usually experience a painful or burning sensation during urination, or a discharge of pus from the vagina. Untreated, the disease progresses to abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding between menstrual periods or fever.
Men report burning, often severe, during urination, and discharge from the penis.
Throat infections produce pain and swelling of the soft tissues at the back of the throat. Rectal infections often include itching, discharge, and painful bowel movements. A urologist or health clinic worker usually will diagnose the disease on the basis of a patient's visible symptoms. Microscopic examination of stain and culture tests of a pus sample will readily confirm visual diagnosis. Treatment Over time, different strains of gonorrhea have become resistant to penicillin, ampicillin and amoxicillin.