Symptoms will usually show up within a week following sexual contact with an infected person. A discharge of pus from the urethra and mild to severe burning pain when urinating are common signs. Sometimes an unusual vaginal discharge, or pain on urination will occur. In both sexes, gonorrhea infections of the throat do not usually produce symptoms. Anal infections may cause a discharge of pus or blood from the rectum, but often there are no symptoms.
Untreated gonorrhea can lead to serious problems of the reproductive organs.
Females, often unaware they have gonorrhea, may develop an infection of the fallopian tubes and ovaries. It can cause lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, fever and painful intercourse. If not treated, internal scarring and blockage of fallopian tubes can cause sterility, tubal pregnancies, chronic pelvic pain and menstrual irregularities. An untreated pregnant female can pass gonorrhea to her baby's eyes during childbirth. This type of infection, which may cause blindness, can be prevented by special drops.