Many of these contacts are asymptomatic. Approximately 15 to 30 percent of heterosexual men with gonococcal urethritis have a simultaneous infection with chlamydia. The incubation period for NGU is 10 to 21 days, however up to 30 percent of urethral chlamydial infections have few or no symptoms. It is not known how long the organism may persist in men, but in untreated women, chlamydia have persisted up to 18 months. About one-third of treated NGU cases recur within six weeks.
Some patients report their symptoms get worse after drinking beer.
Classically, NGU symptoms develop slowly with the patient complaining of mild dysuria or meatal itching, often only on arising or in the morning. The discharge is usually clear and mucoid, and may also be present only on arising. There may be no overt discharge, or only meatal crusting or stained underwear. In contrast, classic gonorrhea presents abruptly, with severe dysuria and a copious purulent discharge. However, the spectra of presentation of these two entities overlap, and either may mimic the other .