Gonorrhea Discharge: What It Looks Like
Quick answer
Gonorrhea can cause a white, yellow or green discharge from the penis, and increased or yellow-green discharge from the vagina, often with burning when you pee. Many people have no discharge at all, and other infections can look similar, so discharge alone cannot confirm gonorrhea. A urine sample or swab test is what gives a real answer.
Does this sound like your discharge?
Tick the field marks that match.
The more of these match, the more it is worth getting tested. This is not a diagnosis, because other infections can cause the same symptoms. Only a test can confirm gonorrhea.
A new discharge is alarming, and the color often sends people straight to the worst-case search results. Here is what gonorrhea discharge can look like, and what else could be going on.
What does gonorrhea discharge look like?
In people with a penis, the CDC describes a white, yellow or green discharge from the penis, often alongside burning when peeing. MedlinePlus lists the same colors and adds that the opening of the penis may be red or swollen. The NHS describes it as fluid or discharge coming out of the penis.
In people with a vagina, the signs are often milder. The CDC lists increased vaginal discharge, and the NHS describes a yellow or greenish discharge. MedlinePlus also mentions that it can be foul-smelling.
Rectal infections can cause discharge too, with anal itching, soreness, bleeding or painful bowel movements.
How soon does it start?
It varies. MedlinePlus says symptoms most often appear 2 to 5 days after infection, but it can take up to a month in men. The NHS says around 2 weeks is usual, and sometimes much longer. Discharge that appears a few weeks after a possible exposure can therefore still be gonorrhea.
Does yellow discharge always mean gonorrhea?
No. Color is not a test. The CDC notes that gonorrhea symptoms in women can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection, and persistent urethral symptoms after treatment can also be caused by other organisms.
Chlamydia is the main infection to check for at the same time. MedlinePlus says about half of women with gonorrhea also have chlamydia, and the CDC advises treating for chlamydia too if it hasn’t been ruled out.
If your main symptom is burning when you pee, see the guide on burning when you pee: STD or UTI. If the discharge is yellow or green and you are not sure what is causing it, the guide on yellow or green discharge covers non-STD causes.
Are there other symptoms?
Possibly, though many people have none.
- Burning or pain when peeing, in both penis and vagina.
- Painful or swollen testicles, which is less common (CDC).
- Bleeding between periods or after sex in people with a vagina.
- Lower belly pain. Severe pain with fever can mean the infection has spread.
A gonorrhea infection often causes no symptoms at all, so a clear day does not mean you are in the clear.
How do I find out what is causing it?
You need a test, and you can order one online. A urine sample is usually used. A swab may also be taken from the urethra (the tube you pee through), cervix, throat or rectum, depending on your symptoms and the sex you have had. The NHS notes you may be able to take the swab yourself.
Avoid treating yourself before you are checked. MedlinePlus advises never treating yourself without being tested first, since a clinician will decide the best treatment.
What happens if it is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea can be cured with the right antibiotic treatment, given by a clinician. Our guide to gonorrhea treatment explains what that involves. Your recent partners need to be tested too, and you should avoid sex until you and your partners have all finished treatment.
If you leave it, the risks are real. In women, untreated gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause infertility and ectopic pregnancy. In men, it can cause a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles, and rarely infertility. Getting tested early is the best protection.
What should I do while I wait for a test?
- Avoid sex until you know what is causing the discharge. If it is gonorrhea, the CDC says you and your partners should not have sex until each of you has finished treatment and symptoms are gone.
- Do not take leftover antibiotics. The wrong medicine can leave an infection in place.
- Let recent partners know if you test positive, so they can be tested and treated. A doctor or clinician can often help with this.
- Write down when the discharge started and what sex you have had recently. It helps you choose the right test samples.
Get care today if
- You have discharge together with a fever, joint pain or swelling, or a bumpy or blotchy rash
- You have severe pain low in your belly or in your testicles
- Your eyes are red, painful or have pus that sticks to your eyelashes
- You are pregnant and have unusual discharge
Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, urgent care or your doctor can see you today.
When to test
- As soon as you notice discharge or burningOrder an online STD test. Most of the time gonorrhea is diagnosed from a urine sample. Swabs of the throat or rectum are added if you have had oral or anal sex.
- If your partner has been diagnosed with an STIOrder a test online even without symptoms. Gonorrhea often causes no discharge, so feeling fine does not rule it out.
- A few days after treatment, if the discharge has not clearedGo back to your provider if symptoms continue for more than a few days after you finish treatment.
Common questions
Is yellow discharge from the penis always gonorrhea?
No. Gonorrhea is one possible cause, and other infections can cause similar discharge. The CDC lists a white, yellow or green discharge as a gonorrhea symptom, but only a test can tell which infection you have. Chlamydia often needs to be checked at the same time.
What does gonorrhea discharge look like in women?
It may be increased in amount, or yellow or greenish, and sometimes foul-smelling. It can easily be mistaken for a vaginal infection or a bladder infection, and most women with gonorrhea have no symptoms at all.
Can gonorrhea discharge come from the anus?
Yes. Rectal infections may cause discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding or painful bowel movements, though they can also cause no symptoms. A rectal swab is used for testing.
Could burning and discharge cause long-term harm?
Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent problems, such as pelvic inflammatory disease in women and a painful condition near the testicles in men, which can rarely lead to infertility. Treatment cures the infection, so the sooner you get tested the better.
Sources
This guide is general information written by a patient advocate using public health sources. It is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician who examines you, or a lab test, can tell you what you have. Read how we write and check our guides.