Complications of Gonorrhea
Complications list for Gonorrhea:
The list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources
for Gonorrhea includes:
See also the symptoms of Gonorrhea and Gonorrhea: Introduction.
Complications and sequelae of Gonorrhea from the Diseases Database include:
Source: Diseases Database
See also the symptoms of Gonorrhea and Gonorrhea: Introduction.
Complications of Gonorrhea:
Gonorrhea: DSTD (Excerpt)
Untreated gonorrhea
can cause serious and permanent problems in both women and men.
In women, gonorrhea
is a common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). About 1 million
women each year in the United States develop PID. Women with PID do not
necessarily have symptoms or signs. When symptoms or signs are present,
they can be very severe and can include strong abdominal pain and fever.
PID can lead to internal abscesses (pus pockets that are hard to cure),
long-lasting pelvic pain, and infertility. PID can cause infertility or
damage the fallopian tubes (egg canals) enough to increase the risk of
ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition in
which a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian
tube.
In men, gonorrhea can
cause epididymitis, a painful condition of the testicles that can
sometimes lead to infertility if left untreated. Without prompt treatment,
gonorrhea can also affect the prostate and can lead to scarring inside the
urethra, making urination difficult.
Gonorrhea can spread
to the blood or joints. This condition can be life-threatening. Also,
persons with gonorrhea can more easily contract HIV, the virus that causes
AIDS. Persons with HIV infection and gonorrhea are more likely than
persons with HIV infection alone to transmit HIV to someone
else. (Source: excerpt from Gonorrhea: DSTD)
Gonorrhea, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)
In untreated
gonorrhea infections, the bacteria can spread up into the
reproductive tract, or more rarely, can spread through the blood
stream and infect the joints, heart valves, or the brain.
The
most common result of untreated gonorrhea is PID, a serious
infection of the female reproductive organs. Gonococcal PID often
appears immediately after the menstrual period. PID causes scar
tissue to form in the fallopian tubes. If the tube is only partially
scarred, the fertilized egg cannot pass into the uterus. If this
happens, the embryo may implant in the tube causing a tubal
pregnancy. This serious complication results in a miscarriage and
can cause death of the mother. Rarely, untreated gonorrhea can
spread through the blood to the joints.
If you are infected
with gonorrhea, your risk of getting HIV infection increases (HIV,
human immunodeficiency virus, causes AIDS). Therefore, it is
extremely important for you to either prevent yourself from getting
gonorrhea or get treated early if you already are infected with it.
(Source: excerpt from Gonorrhea, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Statistics, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)
If not adequately treated, 10 to 40 percent of women infected
with gonorrhea develop PID. (Source: excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases Statistics, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)
The most
common and serious complications occur in women and, as with
chlamydial infection, these complications include PID, ectopic
pregnancy, and infertility. (Source: excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
Gonorrhea: NWHIC (Excerpt)
If gonorrhea is not treated, the bacteria can spread to the bloodstream
and infect the joints, heart valves, or the brain. The most common
consequence of gonorrhea, however, is PID, a serious infection of the
female reproductive organs that occurs in an estimated 1 million American
women each year. PID can scar or damage cells lining the fallopian tubes,
resulting in infertility in as many as 10 percent of women affected. In
others, the damage prevents the proper passage of the fertilized egg into
the uterus. If this happens, the egg may implant in the tube; this is
called an ectopic or tubal pregnancy and is life-threatening to the mother
if not detected early. (Source: excerpt from Gonorrhea: NWHIC)
Gonorrhea Symptoms: Book Excerpts
Gonorrhea as a symptom:
For a more detailed analysis of Gonorrhea as a symptom, including causes, drug side effect causes, and drug interaction causes, please see our Symptom Center information for Gonorrhea.
About complications:
Complications of Gonorrhea are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are
caused by Gonorrhea.
In many cases the distinction between symptoms of Gonorrhea and complications
of Gonorrhea is unclear
or arbitrary.
Join our panel of experts for a discussion of gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted disease that may affect as many as 2 million people each year in the...
Sexual contact can sometimes result in problems. An unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases may be some of those consequences. But by...
Chlamydia is often refered to, and joked about, as "the clap". But for the 3 million people who are infected with it each year in the U.S. alone,...
Germs are a fact of life and catching an infectious disease like a cold may seem inevitable. But there are simple ways to protect yourself against...
See full list of 4 related videos
» Next page: Misdiagnosis of Gonorrhea
Rate This Website
What do you think about the features of this website?
Take our user survey and have your say:
Website User Survey
Medical Tools & Articles:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
- Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
