Does Gonorrhea Cause Abdominal Pain?

Abdominal pain is a common symptom of many STDs. If you’re experiencing abdominal pain, you might have concerns about your sexual health. While it can be nerve-wracking to take an STD test, it’s the best course of action in this scenario. The faster you have a diagnosis, the faster you can seek the necessary treatment. 

Since gonorrhea is one of the most common STDs, you might wonder: does gonorrhea cause abdominal pain? Rapid STD Testing is here to answer this question, along with other questions you might have about gonorrhea. It all starts with a rapid STD test to determine whether or not you have gonorrhea. 

Unraveling the Symptoms: How Gonorrhea Manifests in the Body

The Centers for Disease Control estimate there were over a million new cases of gonorrhea in men and women in the United States in 2018. Most of these infections occur in people between the ages of 15 and 24. This infection is often asymptomatic, which is why it can spread so easily. If you only get tested when they experience symptoms, you can unknowingly spread STIs like gonorrhea. 

Gonorrhea develops from the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium, which infects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract. This includes the fallopian tubes, cervix, uterus, or urethra. N. gonorrhoeae can also infect the eyes, mouth, throat, and rectum. 

You can contract gonorrhea through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Gonorrhea can be asymptomatic and still cause complications like abdominal pain. When the infection isn’t asymptomatic, it presents several symptoms. 

Are there specific signs that abdominal pain is related to gonorrhea rather than other health issues? 

In people with vaginas, gonorrhea can cause: 

• Discharge from the anus or vagina
• Bleeding during sex and between periods
• Anal or rectal pain and itchiness
• Sore throat
• Lower back and belly pain
• Burning sensation when urinating 

In people with penises, gonorrhea can cause: 

• Discharge from the penis or anus
• Abdominal pain
• Frequent urination
• Painful urination
• Anal or rectal pain and itchiness 
• Sore throat

Does gonorrhea cause abdominal pain? Abdominal pain is one of the more severe gonorrhea symptoms. Abdominal pain is any pain you experience in your belly region, including your stomach, liver, gallbladder, large intestine, pancreas, or small intestine. Additionally, the nerves and muscles covering your abdomen can cause abdominal pain. 

STD abdominal pain differs from pelvic pain, which STDs are more likely to cause. You will feel pelvic pain lower than other abdominal pain, as it usually results from the infection spreading from the rectum, vagina, or urethra up to the organs in the pelvis. 

If you start to feel abdominal or pelvic pain, use same-day STD testing to test for gonorrhea. It’s best to test regularly, regardless of symptoms, to detect asymptomatic gonorrhea. This way, you can get gonorrhea treatment as soon as possible.

Beyond the Basics: Understanding Gonorrhea-Related Complications 

Without treatment, gonorrhea causes severe health complications. Gonorrhea is curable, and if you catch it in its early stages, you can avoid these long-term STD complications. Many of these complications cause abdominal pain.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

In people with vaginas, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common complication of untreated gonorrhea. PID is the inflammation or infection of the female reproductive system, usually caused by gonorrhea or other STDs. It can affect the cervix, fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries. It usually starts in the cervix, then travels to the endometrium and then the fallopian tubes. 

PID causes painful sex, menstrual problems, fevers, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Abdominal pain ranges from mild to severe with PID. Without treatment, you may experience chronic abdominal pain. 

Epididymitis 

Epididymitis is the swelling of the tube (epididymis) at the back of the testicles. This causes sudden or gradual pain in one or both testicles. If you have epididymitis, you may have a warm or swollen scrotum and fluid build-up around your testicles. This can cause trouble with urination and yellow or green discharge. 

Epididymitis is treatable with antibiotics. 

Disseminated Gonococcal Infection 

Disseminated gonococcal infection can occur in anyone regardless of sex. This complication occurs when the gonorrheal infection enters your bloodstream, allowing it to spread to sites throughout your body. This leads to arthritis, skin irritation, and inflammation of tendons in your hands, wrists, and feet. Without treatment, this complication is life-threatening. 

AIDS and HIV

While untreated gonorrhea cannot develop directly into HIV, it can increase your risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. In turn, HIV can develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, if left untreated. 

Infertility and Pregnancy Complications

Many of these complications can lead to infertility in both sexes. If a pregnant person has gonorrhea, they are at a higher risk of premature birth, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage. If the pregnant person gives birth, the baby may suffer from an eye infection that leads to blindness. 

Heart Complications

While it’s rare, untreated gonorrhea can lead to heart complications such as gonococcal endocarditis, which causes heart murmurs and other cardiac abnormalities. These can be life-threatening without treatment. 

Avoid these complications by testing for gonorrhea regularly. Utilize a 10-panel STD test to test for various STDs at once. If you receive a positive test result, don't panic — gonorrhea is treatable. Seek treatment immediately, and contact any recent sexual partners as soon as possible. 

Navigating Treatment and Prevention: A Roadmap to Health

When you receive a positive test result for gonorrhea, don’t panic. While treatment cannot reverse the damage gonorrhea has done, it can prevent further damage. In its early stages, gonorrhea is 100% treatable and curable. 

Who Is At Risk For Gonorrhea? 

Anyone sexually active can contract gonorrhea. However, some groups are more at risk than others. These groups include: 

• People between the ages of 15 and 24
• Men who have sex with men
• People with multiple sex partners
• African Americans

Tests for gonorrhea use urine, urethral, endocervical, or vaginal swabs for nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT).

How Can I Prevent Gonorrhea? 

You can prevent gonorrhea with safe sex practices. STD prevention strategies include using latex condoms, having sex in a monogamous relationship, and talking openly with your partner about your sexual health. While this can be an uncomfortable conversation, it is vital to keep you both safe. 

This can be as simple as asking your partner:

• When was the last time you tested for STDs?
• Do you have a history of STDs?
• Have you had other sexual partners recently? Have they tested for STDs? 

What Treatment Options Are Available for Gonorrhea? 

Treatment for gonorrhea is the same whether you have abdominal pain or not: It typically begins with a single 500 mg dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone. If you’re allergic to ceftriaxone, doctors will use a 240 mg shot of gentamicin and two grams of azithromycin. Doctors sometimes follow this with a single 100 mg dose of oral azithromycin. 

Since gonorrhea is becoming increasingly more resistant to antibiotics, a test-of-cure is required. After seven to 14 days post-treatment, test for gonorrhea again. If the infection persists, your doctor will develop a stronger plan. During treatment, refrain from any sexual activity, as you can still spread the infection. 

Get Rapid Results With Rapid STD Testing

Does gonorrhea cause abdominal pain? In some instances, yes. If you experience abdominal pain, test for gonorrhea and other STDs as soon as possible. Even if the symptoms go away, you should schedule routine gonorrhea testing while you’re sexually active. 

How often should you get tested for STDs? The CDC recommends all sexually active adults test for common STDs like gonorrhea at least once a year. Visit your local Rapid STD Testing clinic to talk to a medical professional and schedule a test.