7 Ways to Check if You Have Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease, which means it can spread from an infected person to another during sexual contact. Though gonorrhea is not known to cause any severe symptoms, in some cases, it may cause infertility and other complications.Hence, it is important to check if you have gonorrhea so that it can be detected before it flares up. Here are the 7 ways to check if you have Gonorrhea.

7. Painful urination

Painful urination is a common symptom of infections in the urinary tract. When accompanied by pus-like discharge from the penis and swelling and pain in one testicle, it could be considered a sign of Gonorrhea. [1]

6. Abnormal vaginal discharge

The common initial symptoms of gonorrhea in women include abnormal vaginal discharge and bleeding between periods. Women may also develop painful urination and pain in the lower abdomen. [2]

5. Painful intercourse

If women experience pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic region during and after intercourse, it is possible that they are suffering from Gonorrhea. This symptom is usually accompanied by bleeding after sex. [3]

4. Urine test

The diagnosis of Gonorrhea can be confirmed by doing a urine test. It involves testing a sample of urine in the laboratory to detect the presence of the bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, responsible for this infection. [4]

3. Swab test

A swab test can be useful for checking if you have gonorrhea. You can visit a clinic or a laboratory where a physician will take a swab from your urethra, vagina, rectum, or throat and test it in a laboratory. The presence of bacteria responsible for causing gonorrhea in the swab can help to confirm the diagnosis. [5]

2. Self-swab test

You can check if you have Gonorrhea by taking the swab yourself and sending it to a laboratory for testing. It has been found that the self-swab test is equally effective for the detection of Gonorrhea as the swab taken by a physician. [6]

1. Anal symptoms

In some cases, patients may develop itching around the anus and pain while passing stools. They may also notice an abnormal discharge from the anus. The presence of these symptoms may indicate the possibility of Gonorrhea. [7]

 Conclusion

Men and women should be aware of the early signs of Gonorrhea and the tests that can help to confirm the diagnosis so that they can receive immediate treatment before any complications arise.