Gonorrhea in Nigeria: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | aihealz
Infectious Disease
Gonorrhea.Care & specialists in Nigeria
In Nigeria, gonorrhea is managed by infectious diseases. Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported notifiable disease in the United States, caused by the gram-negative diplococcus Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The CDC recorded 648,056 US cases in 2022 — a 25% increase over five years — with rectal and pharyngeal infections rising fastest.
aliases · Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, 'the clap')· सूजाक (Sujak)· Gonorrea· The Clap· reviewed May 13, 2026
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Reviewed by AIHealz Medical Editorial Board · Infectious DiseaseLast reviewed May 13, 2026
Gonorrhea (ICD-10: A54) is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a fastidious gram-negative diplococcus that selectively infects columnar and transitional epithelium of the urogenital tract, rectum, pharynx, and conjunctiva. The organism attaches via pili and Opa proteins, then invades mucosal cells, triggering neutrophilic inflammation that produces the classic purulent discharge. Asymptomatic carriage is common — up to 80% of cervical infections and 40-50% of male urethral infections produce no symptoms — which is the main reason for ongoing transmission. Clinically, gonorrhea presents as urethritis, cervicitis, proctitis, pharyngitis, conjunctivitis, or disseminated infection (gonococcal arthritis-dermatitis syndrome).
key facts
Prevalence
648,056 US cases in 2022 (CDC); rate 194 per 100,000 — highest since 1991
Demographics
Highest in adults aged 15-24; men accounted for 55% of cases in 2022, women 45%
Avg. age
Median age at diagnosis 25; over half of cases occur in those under 25
Global cases
~82 million new infections globally in 2020 (WHO); prevalence is rising in most regions
Specialist
Infectious Disease
§ 02
How you might notice it
The key symptoms of Gonorrhea are: Thick, yellow or green purulent urethral discharge in men, typically appearing 2-7 days after exposure and persisting until treated., Painful or burning urination (dysuria) due to acute urethritis — sharper and earlier in onset than the discomfort of a urinary tract infection., Increased or abnormal vaginal discharge in women, often watery to yellow, sometimes accompanied by intermenstrual bleeding or post-coital bleeding., Lower abdominal or pelvic pain in women, which signals possible ascension to pelvic inflammatory disease and warrants urgent evaluation., Painful intercourse (dyspareunia) and cervical motion tenderness on bimanual exam — features of cervicitis or early PID., Anal itching, mucopurulent discharge, tenesmus, or bleeding in rectal gonorrhea, though up to 85% of rectal infections cause no symptoms., Sore throat or pharyngitis in oropharyngeal gonorrhea — present in fewer than 10% of pharyngeal infections; most are asymptomatic..
01Thick, yellow or green purulent urethral discharge in men, typically appearing 2-7 days after exposure and persisting until treated.
02Painful or burning urination (dysuria) due to acute urethritis — sharper and earlier in onset than the discomfort of a urinary tract infection.
03Increased or abnormal vaginal discharge in women, often watery to yellow, sometimes accompanied by intermenstrual bleeding or post-coital bleeding.
04Lower abdominal or pelvic pain in women, which signals possible ascension to pelvic inflammatory disease and warrants urgent evaluation.
§ 03
How it’s diagnosed
diagnosis
Diagnosis relies on nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), which has displaced culture as the routine method due to high sensitivity (>95%) and specificity (>99%) across all anatomic sites. Specimen choice depends on the patient and the suspected site: first-catch urine in symptomatic men, vaginal or endocervical swab in women, and self- or clinician-collected pharyngeal and rectal swabs as indicated. CDC recommends extragenital (pharyngeal and rectal) testing in MSM, in patients with relevant exposures regardless of orientation, and in any patient with persistent symptoms despite genital-only negative NAAT. Culture remains essential for two purposes: antimicrobial susceptibility testing whenever treatment failure is suspected, and confirmation of disseminated, joint, or ophthalmic disease where treatment intensification depends on sensitivity. Gram stain of urethral discharge in symptomatic men shows intracellular gram-negative diplococci with 95% sensitivity and is a reasonable rapid test in clinics with microscopy. In women, microscopy is too insensitive to use alone. Every gonorrhea diagnosis should trigger bundled testing for chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C at the same visit, since co-infection rates are 10-30% for chlamydia and substantial for other STIs. Partner notification (within the prior 60 days) is mandatory in most US states. Test-of-cure (repeat NAAT 7-14 days after treatment) is recommended for pharyngeal gonorrhea, treatment failure, pregnancy, or alternative-regimen use, but not for routine urogenital cases. All patients should be retested for reinfection 3 months after treatment because incident reinfection rates approach 10-20% in the year following the initial diagnosis.
Key tests
01
Nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)Detects N. gonorrhoeae DNA or RNA in urine, vaginal, endocervical, pharyngeal, or rectal specimens. Sensitivity 96-99%, specificity >99%; the standard first-line test recommended by CDC.
02
Gram stain of urethral dischargeRapid microscopic identification of intracellular gram-negative diplococci in neutrophils. Sensitive in symptomatic men (95%); too insensitive in women or asymptomatic patients.
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Treatment & cost
medical treatments
✓Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM single dose (1 g if ≥150 kg)
✓Ceftriaxone 1 g IV daily × 7-14 days (disseminated infection)
✓Doxycycline 100 mg PO twice daily × 7 days (co-treatment for chlamydia)
✓Gentamicin 240 mg IM + azithromycin 2 g PO (alternative for cephalosporin allergy)
surgical options
Drainage of tubo-ovarian abscessResolution in 80-90% of cases with combined antibiotic and drainage approach.
Surgical drainage of joint or epididymal abscessconsult specialist
§ 05
Causes & risk factors
known causes
Sexual transmission of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Transmission occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. The per-act transmission risk from an infected partner is approximately 50% per vaginal exposure for women, 20% for men, and varies for rectal and pharyngeal exposure. Asymptomatic carriers transmit as effectively as symptomatic ones.
Perinatal (vertical) transmission
An infected pregnant person can transmit N. gonorrhoeae to the newborn during vaginal delivery, producing gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum within 2-5 days of birth. Routine erythromycin eye ointment at delivery reduces but does not eliminate risk; maternal treatment in pregnancy is preventive.
Antimicrobial resistance accelerates persistence
N. gonorrhoeae has acquired sequential resistance to penicillin, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and oral cephalosporins through chromosomal mutations and plasmid acquisition. Pharyngeal infection is a key site of resistance emergence because sub-inhibitory drug exposure mixes with commensal Neisseria.
Lack of barrier protection during oral sex
Condoms are highly effective for vaginal and anal intercourse but rarely used during oral sex, leaving the pharynx as a reservoir. Pharyngeal infection then re-seeds genital sites and helps drive the rise in oropharyngeal gonorrhea in MSM and heterosexual women.
Co-infection with other STIs facilitates transmission
Gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV share risk pathways. Co-infection is common — 10-30% of gonorrhea patients also have chlamydia — and any STI ulceration increases gonorrhea transmissibility.
risk factors
Age under 25non-modifiable
§ 06
Living with it
01Use latex or polyurethane condoms for vaginal and anal sex with new or untested partners — reduces per-act transmission by 60-90%
02Screen sexually active men who have sex with men at all three sites (urine, throat, rectal) every 3-6 months
03Screen all sexually active women under 25 annually, plus older women with risk factors
04Notify and refer for treatment all sexual contacts within the prior 60 days of any positive diagnosis — expedited partner therapy where legal
05Discuss doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) with a clinician if you are an MSM or transgender woman at high STI risk — reduces gonorrhea incidence by 55% in trials
06Vaccinate against meningococcal group B if at high risk — the 4CMenB vaccine appears to reduce gonorrhea incidence by 30-50% due to cross-immunity (observational data)
recommended foods
•Normal balanced nutrition supports immune recovery during treatment
•Adequate hydration during oral antibiotic courses
§ 07
When to seek help
why see an infectious disease
Infectious disease or sexual health specialist input is warranted in suspected treatment failure, disseminated gonococcal infection, complicated pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy with cephalosporin allergy, recurrent infection despite appropriate therapy, and gonococcal endocarditis or meningitis. Primary care and sexual health clinics manage most uncomplicated cases according to CDC algorithms.
Uncomplicated urogenital gonorrheaInfection limited to the urethra in men or the cervix and urethra in women. The most common presentation, typically with discharge, dysuria, or no symptoms at all.
Pharyngeal gonorrheaThroat infection from oral sex. Almost always asymptomatic but harbors and transmits resistant strains; resolution requires the same ceftriaxone dose as urogenital disease.
Rectal (anorectal) gonorrheaAnal canal and rectal infection from receptive anal sex. Most cases are asymptomatic; symptomatic disease presents with pruritus, mucopurulent discharge, tenesmus, or bleeding.
Conjunctival gonorrheaHyperacute conjunctivitis with copious purulent discharge. In neonates (ophthalmia neonatorum) acquired during birth, it can cause corneal ulceration and blindness within 24-48 hours without treatment.
Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI)Bacteremic spread occurring in 0.5-3% of cases, classically presenting as the arthritis-dermatitis syndrome with skin pustules, tenosynovitis, and migratory polyarthralgia. A monoarticular septic arthritis phase may follow.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)Upper genital tract ascension in women: endometritis, salpingitis, and tubo-ovarian abscess. Develops in 10-20% of untreated cervical infections and is a leading cause of preventable infertility.
Living with Gonorrhea
Timeline
Urethral and vaginal symptoms typically resolve within 3-5 days of ceftriaxone administration. Sexual activity should be avoided for 7 days after treatment and until partners are treated. Pelvic inflammatory disease pain and fever resolve over 3-7 days with appropriate antibiotics. Joint involvement in disseminated infection resolves over 2-4 weeks of treatment. Retest at 3 months for reinfection; test of cure at 7-14 days only for pharyngeal sites, pregnancy, or treatment failure concerns.
Lifestyle
01Abstain from sex for 7 days after treatment and until partners have completed treatment
02Disclose current and recent sexual partners to your clinician or the health department for partner notification
03Return for retesting at 3 months after treatment to detect reinfection — the most common cause of recurrent gonorrhea is a new exposure, not treatment failure
04Address substance use and mental health if these contribute to high-risk behavior
05Carry condoms and use them consistently with new or untested partners going forward
06Add HIV PrEP to your prevention plan if you have ongoing STI risk
Daily management
01Complete any prescribed oral antibiotic course (doxycycline for chlamydia co-treatment) for the full 7 days even if symptoms resolve early
Choosing a doctor
Look for a clinician who follows the CDC 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines, has access to NAAT testing at all relevant sites (urine, vaginal, pharyngeal, rectal), can prescribe expedited partner therapy where legal, and integrates bundled STI screening at every visit. Sexual health clinics typically provide rapid testing, partner notification support, and discreet care.
Yes. A single intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone 500 mg cures over 98% of uncomplicated gonorrhea. Cure is presumed by symptom resolution, with test of cure reserved for pharyngeal infection, pregnancy, or treatment failure.
What does gonorrhea discharge look like?▾▴
In men, urethral discharge is typically thick, yellow or green, and copious, appearing 2-7 days after exposure. In women, discharge is more variable — watery to yellow, often with intermenstrual bleeding. About 80% of female infections produce no symptoms.
How long until gonorrhea symptoms appear?▾▴
Symptoms in symptomatic men typically appear 2-7 days after exposure. Women, when symptomatic, develop signs over 5-14 days. Up to 80% of cervical and 40% of male urethral infections, and almost all pharyngeal and rectal infections, cause no symptoms — silent infections still transmit.
Can you get gonorrhea from kissing?▾▴
Pharyngeal gonorrhea is transmitted by oral sex, not by ordinary kissing. Deep tongue kissing with an infected partner may transmit in a minority of cases, but oral-genital and oral-anal contact are the dominant routes. Saliva is not a major reservoir.
What antibiotic treats gonorrhea?▾▴
Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM as a single dose (1 g if patient weighs ≥150 kg) is the only first-line antibiotic per CDC. Doxycycline is added for 7 days only if chlamydia co-infection has not been excluded. Oral cephalosporins and azithromycin are no longer first-line.
Why was azithromycin dropped from gonorrhea treatment?▾▴
CDC removed azithromycin from first-line regimens in December 2020 because US isolates with reduced azithromycin susceptibility crossed 5%, a level linked to treatment failure. Higher-dose ceftriaxone monotherapy is effective and avoids dual-therapy resistance pressure.
Can gonorrhea go away on its own?▾▴
No. Untreated gonorrhea may become asymptomatic but the bacterium persists, continues to transmit, and can ascend to cause pelvic inflammatory disease, epididymitis, or disseminated infection. Without antibiotics, the infection can persist for months to years and cause permanent reproductive damage.
Can men get gonorrhea without symptoms?▾▴
Yes. About 40-50% of male urogenital gonorrhea infections cause no symptoms, and the majority of male pharyngeal and rectal infections are asymptomatic. CDC recommends triple-site (urine, throat, rectal) screening every 3-6 months in sexually active men who have sex with men.
How is gonorrhea diagnosed?▾▴
Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) on urine, vaginal, endocervical, pharyngeal, or rectal specimens is the standard test. Sensitivity exceeds 95%. Self-collected swabs are accurate. Culture is added for treatment failure or surveillance.
Does gonorrhea affect fertility?▾▴
Untreated gonorrhea can ascend in women to cause pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal scarring, and infertility. Tubal infertility risk is about 12% after one PID episode, 25% after two, and 50% after three. Prompt treatment substantially reduces this risk.
How long should I wait before having sex after gonorrhea treatment?▾▴
Wait at least 7 days after receiving ceftriaxone and until all sexual partners have completed treatment. Resuming earlier risks reinfection of yourself or transmission to partners. Test for reinfection at 3 months, and use condoms with new or untested partners going forward.
Will my partner need treatment?▾▴
Yes. All sexual contacts within the prior 60 days should be tested and treated for gonorrhea. Many US states allow expedited partner therapy — a prescription for the partner without a clinic visit. Health departments can assist with anonymous partner notification when needed.
Can gonorrhea affect the throat?▾▴
Yes. Pharyngeal gonorrhea is acquired through oral sex and is almost always asymptomatic. It is harder to clear than urogenital infection and is a major reservoir for antibiotic resistance. The same ceftriaxone dose is used; test of cure is recommended.
Is gonorrhea becoming resistant to antibiotics?▾▴
Yes. N. gonorrhoeae has acquired resistance to every antibiotic class introduced. Ceftriaxone resistance is rare in the US (under 0.1% in 2022) but has been reported in extensively drug-resistant strains in Japan, the UK, Australia, and France. WHO tracks this globally.
Can you get gonorrhea more than once?▾▴
Yes. Successful treatment does not produce lasting immunity. Reinfection is common in patients with continued exposure, with rates of 10-20% within 12 months in high-risk groups. CDC recommends retesting at 3 months after treatment for all patients with diagnosed gonorrhea.
What is disseminated gonococcal infection?▾▴
Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) occurs in 0.5-3% of cases and presents as the arthritis-dermatitis syndrome — skin pustules on extremities, tenosynovitis, and migratory joint pain — or as monoarticular septic arthritis. It is more common in young women, especially in the first week of menstruation. Treatment is 7-14 days of intravenous ceftriaxone.
How much does gonorrhea treatment cost?▾▴
Ceftriaxone 500 mg costs USD 5-25 per dose in US public health clinics, and many sexual health clinics provide testing and treatment free regardless of insurance status. Private clinic visits add cost, but generics and public-health programs keep total out-of-pocket cost under USD 100 in most cases. Costs in India and other emerging markets are typically far lower.
Can pregnant women safely take ceftriaxone for gonorrhea?▾▴
Yes. Ceftriaxone is the recommended treatment in pregnancy. Untreated gonorrhea in pregnancy increases risk of preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, and ophthalmia neonatorum in the newborn. Doxycycline is contraindicated; if chlamydia co-treatment is needed, azithromycin is substituted.
What is ophthalmia neonatorum?▾▴
Ophthalmia neonatorum is gonococcal eye infection acquired by a newborn during vaginal delivery from an infected mother. It causes copious purulent discharge and eyelid swelling within 2-5 days of birth and can rapidly progress to corneal ulceration and blindness. Treatment is a single dose of intravenous or intramuscular ceftriaxone; prophylactic erythromycin eye ointment at delivery is routine.
Should I be screened for gonorrhea even if I have no symptoms?▾▴
Yes if you are at risk. CDC recommends annual screening for all sexually active women under 25, sexually active men who have sex with men every 3-6 months at all anatomic sites, all pregnant women at the first prenatal visit, and any person with a new partner or partner with an STI.
Is there a vaccine for gonorrhea?▾▴
No dedicated gonorrhea vaccine is currently licensed, but the meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB), used against meningitis, appears to reduce gonorrhea incidence by 30-50% in observational and trial data due to cross-immunity. Dedicated gonorrhea vaccines are in clinical development as of 2026.
Painful intercourse (dyspareunia) and cervical motion tenderness on bimanual exam — features of cervicitis or early PID.
06Anal itching, mucopurulent discharge, tenesmus, or bleeding in rectal gonorrhea, though up to 85% of rectal infections cause no symptoms.
07Sore throat or pharyngitis in oropharyngeal gonorrhea — present in fewer than 10% of pharyngeal infections; most are asymptomatic.
08Hyperacute conjunctivitis with rapidly developing copious yellow-green eye discharge, eyelid swelling, and corneal involvement risk — emergency presentation.
09Painful testicular swelling (epididymitis) in men with ascending infection, usually unilateral and developing 1-2 weeks after initial symptoms.
10Skin pustules on extremities, migratory joint pain, and tenosynovitis in disseminated gonococcal infection — most often in young women in the first week of menses.
early warning signs
•Any new yellow or green urethral discharge in a sexually active person, even if mild and intermittent
•Burning on urination without a urinary urgency or frequency pattern suggestive of UTI
•Spotting or bleeding between periods or after sex in women
•A recent sexual partner reporting symptoms of an STI or having been treated for gonorrhea
● emergency signs
•Severe lower abdominal pain with fever and vaginal discharge — possible pelvic inflammatory disease or tubo-ovarian abscess requiring urgent evaluation
•Hyperacute conjunctivitis with copious purulent discharge — same-day ophthalmology evaluation and intravenous treatment, especially in newborns
•Single hot swollen joint with skin pustules and fever — disseminated gonococcal infection requiring hospitalization for IV ceftriaxone
•Painful unilateral testicular swelling with fever — possible gonococcal epididymitis, distinguished from testicular torsion by ultrasound
•Newborn with red, swollen, discharging eyes in the first week of life — ophthalmia neonatorum, treat without waiting for culture
03
Culture with antimicrobial susceptibility testingEssential when treatment failure is suspected, in disseminated or ophthalmic disease, and for public health surveillance. Provides susceptibility data that NAAT cannot.
04
Extragenital NAAT (pharyngeal and rectal)Required in MSM and any patient with relevant exposure; missed extragenital infections drive ongoing transmission and resistance emergence.
05
Pelvic examination with cervical motion tenderness assessmentDetects pelvic inflammatory disease in women with cervicitis. Cervical motion tenderness, uterine tenderness, or adnexal tenderness with cervical discharge meet PID minimum criteria.
06
Joint aspiration with culture (in suspected disseminated infection)Confirms gonococcal arthritis and guides therapy. Synovial fluid Gram stain has 25-50% yield; culture 50% in arthritis-dermatitis syndrome.
07
Bundled STI screeningTests for chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C at the same visit due to high co-infection rates.
Outlook
With single-dose intramuscular ceftriaxone, the prognosis for uncomplicated urogenital and rectal gonorrhea is excellent — microbiologic cure in 98-99% of cases with no long-term sequelae. Pharyngeal infection has slightly lower cure rates (95-98%) and warrants test of cure. Pelvic inflammatory disease, when promptly treated, resolves clinically in over 90% of cases, but tubal scarring still occurs in roughly 12% of women after a single episode and 50% after three episodes, with corresponding rises in ectopic pregnancy and infertility risk. Disseminated infection responds well to intravenous ceftriaxone, with full recovery in over 90% of patients without permanent joint damage if treated within the first week. The dominant prognostic concerns at the population level are reinfection (10-20% within 12 months in high-risk groups) and antimicrobial resistance — extensively drug-resistant strains have been documented in Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia, and ceftriaxone-resistant cases are accumulating, though they remain rare in the US (under 0.1% in 2022 CDC surveillance).
Over half of US cases occur in this age band. Higher partner change rates, cervical ectropion in young women (more susceptible columnar epithelium), and incomplete behavioral risk reduction drive the pattern.
Men who have sex with men (MSM)non-modifiable
MSM carry a disproportionate burden of pharyngeal and rectal gonorrhea, often asymptomatic. CDC recommends triple-site (urine, throat, rectal) screening every 3-6 months in sexually active MSM.
New or multiple sexual partnersmodifiable
Each additional new partner in the past year roughly doubles infection probability. Concurrency (overlapping partnerships) is a stronger driver than serial partner number in some cohorts.
Inconsistent condom usemodifiable
Consistent correct condom use reduces transmission per act by 60-90%. Real-world adherence varies widely; partial use provides partial protection.
Prior gonorrhea or other STImodifiable
Previous STI signals ongoing exposure and immune dysregulation. Reinfection rates approach 10-15% within 12 months of treatment in high-risk groups.
HIV infectionnon-modifiable
HIV-positive patients have higher rates of pharyngeal and rectal gonorrhea, and gonococcal infection increases HIV transmission risk 2-5 fold by mobilizing local immune cells.
Exchange of sex for money, drugs, or sheltermodifiable
High partner numbers and unequal negotiating power around condom use raise risk. Outreach screening reaches populations less likely to attend clinic-based care.
Substance use, especially methamphetaminemodifiable
Disinhibition, prolonged sexual sessions, and overlap with chemsex circuits all increase exposure. CDC data link rising heterosexual gonorrhea to methamphetamine use.
foods to avoid
•Alcohol within 24 hours of taking metronidazole if PID treatment includes it — disulfiram-like reaction
•Iron, calcium, or antacid supplements within 2 hours of doxycycline — interferes with absorption
•Probiotic supplements within 2 hours of doxycycline
02Return for retesting at 3 months — the CDC recommendation regardless of treatment success
03Use condoms consistently with new or untested partners going forward
04Notify any new sexual contacts of your diagnosis so they can be tested
05Schedule follow-up testing if symptoms persist beyond 5 days after treatment to evaluate for resistance or reinfection
Exercise
No specific restrictions for uncomplicated gonorrhea once treatment is administered. With pelvic inflammatory disease, rest until pain and fever resolve, then gradually return to normal activity. Disseminated infection with septic arthritis requires joint rest until inflammation settles, typically 1-2 weeks.