Symptoms

Resources

What are Chlamydia Symptoms?

Chlamydia is known as a “silent” disease because about three-quarters of infected women and about half of infected men have NO symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within one to three weeks after exposure.  Symptoms can be different for men and women.

Chlamydia Symptoms for Women

  • Vaginal infections
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge
  • Burning sensation when urinating
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Lower back pain
  • Nausea
  • Fever
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Bleeding between menstrual periods
  • Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding from receptive anal intercourse

Chlamydia Symptoms for Men

  • Abnormal penile discharge
  • Burning sensation when urinating
  • Burning and itching around the opening of the penis
  • Pain and swelling in the testicles
  • Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding from receptive anal intercourse

What are Gonorrhea Symptoms?

Both men and women may experience asymptomatic (without symptoms) infections.  For example, some men experience signs or symptoms that appear two to seven days after infection, but symptoms can also take as long as 30 days to appear, or not appear at all.  Women, on the other hand, experience more mild symptoms; in fact, most women who are infected experience none.  Symptoms will vary depending on what part of the body is infected.

Gonorrhea Symptoms for Women

  • Painful/burning sensation when urinating
  • Increased vaginal discharge
  • Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods
  • Rectal discharge, itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements from receptive anal intercourse

Gonorrhea Symptoms for Men

  • Abnormal penile discharge
  • Burning sensation when urinating
  • The head of the penis may become swollen/sore
  • Painful or swollen testicles
  • Rectal discharge, itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements from receptive anal intercourse.

Eye and Throat Infections

Both chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause infections in the throat opens in a new tab and the eyes opens in a new tab (chlamydia conjunctivitis & gonorrhea conjunctivitis), resulting in symptoms ranging from non-existent to severe.