Will Gonorrhea Go Away on Its Own?
Symptoms of gonorrhea usually come and go but gonorrhea itself cannot go away on its own. People having untreated gonorrhea can suffer from some serious health complications, so it is necessary to get proper treatment for any STD including gonorrhea. In addition, the treatment for gonorrhea is quite simple involving a single antibiotic shot of ceftriaxone into the muscle. Although if you have less severe symptoms of gonorrhea, these will generally improve within days. On the other hand, if someone has serious symptoms of gonorrhea like pain in the testicles, anus, or pelvis then it might take up to 2 weeks for the symptoms to go away completely. (12)
Another important factor in the natural subsiding of gonorrhea symptoms is the span of time. A majority of people will experience an improvement right away if they cease having any sexual contact. However, others need a proper course of medications to combat the infection and improve the symptoms altogether. The symptoms including pain or an unusual discharge while urination must improve within 2 to 3 days. Discomfort and discharge in the rectum and anus must improve within a few days as well. On the whole gonorrhea symptoms can take up to 1 to 2 days after taking antibiotics.
However, it might take a few weeks for any pain in your testicles or pelvis to subside. Therefore, the healthcare providers recommend you to get follow-up tests one week after the complete dissipation of symptoms naturally or even after taking antibiotics to ensure that you are free from the infection. Some people also leave gonorrhea to go away on its own due to the fact that most of the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) often show no symptoms. However, if someone leaves gonorrhea or any other STD without treatment, there can be serious health complications including vision loss and other neurologic manifestations, mother-to-child transmission, birth defects, or infertility.
Untreated gonorrhea can lead to infections of the cervix, fallopian tubes, abdomen, and uterus, which is collectively known as a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The complication of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can permanently harm the reproductive system and can make you infertile. In addition, PID consequently needs proper treatment with antibiotics. Even though gonorrhea does not show any symptoms instantly and is highly curable, it will not subside without using medication. Someone with gonorrhea will get prescribed antibiotic medication.
It is important for the person with gonorrhea infection and their sexual partners to complete all the prescribed medications course before returning to their sexual activities. It is important to maintain regular checkups even though you are seeking a treatment plan if you plan on getting sexually active. Untreated gonorrhea can cause a number of serious complications in women as well, including:
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Infertility
- Scar tissues that cover the fallopian tubes
- Chronic abdominal and pelvic pain
As we know that unprotected sex is a major cause of contracting or spreading gonorrhea, it can also lead to the recurrence of the infection in the same person who receives a complete course of antibiotics. The cycle of getting and recurring gonorrhea can prolong the span of infection and its symptoms in the future.