Women who do have symptoms usually notice them within a month after having sex with an infected person. Infections in the throat and rectum cause few symptoms. Untreated, gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent damage to the body. In men, it can move from the penis up to the prostate gland, bladder or testicles. The testicles can swell and become tender.
Women can develop chronic pain when the infection spreads into the reproductive organs.
PID can make a women unable to have babies. An untreated infection during pregnancy may cause damage to the baby. Abstinence is the only sure way to avoid all sexually transmitted diseases. Limit the number of partners you have and avoid sex with high risk people. Look at your partner before having sex.