Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium that grows easily in the reproductive tract of women, and in the urinary tract in women and men. Symptoms in men include a burning sensation when urinating, or a discharge from the penis. Symptoms in women are usually mild, but can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, with a risk of infertility. Untreated gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints and be life-threatening.
Additional Resources
For more information contact:
- Your local health office, or call our Health Info Hotline at 1-866-HLTHY4U (1-866-458-4948)
- The National STD and AIDS Hotlines, 1-800-227-8922 or 1-800-342-2437. (24 hours, 7 days)
- Spanish: 1-800-344-7432 from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Central time
- Hearing-impaired: 1-800-243-7889 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central time
