Gonorrhea Complications: Understanding Potential Risks & Long-Term Effects

If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to severe complications, including:

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women: Gonorrhea can spread to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, causing PID. PID can cause pelvic pain, fever, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy.

Epididymitis in men: Gonorrhea can spread to the epididymis, a tube that carries sperm from the testes. Epididymitis can cause pain in the testicles, fever, and infertility.

Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI): Gonorrhea can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, causing infections in the joints, skin, heart, and brain. DGI is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication.

Infertility: Gonorrhea can cause infertility in both men and women. In men, gonorrhea can damage the sperm and cause scarring of the epididymis. In women, gonorrhea can damage the fallopian tubes and cause scarring of the uterus.

Increased risk of HIV infection: Gonorrhea can increase the risk of HIV infection by making it easier for the virus to enter the body.

Stillbirth: Gonorrhea can cause stillbirth if it is transmitted to the baby during pregnancy.

Sepsis: Gonorrhea can also cause sepsis, a life-threatening condition in which the body's organs are damaged by a systemic infection.