Quick Answer: Gonorrhea in men often causes burning during urination, unusual discharge, and testicle pain, but symptoms can also show up in the throat or rectum, or not at all. If anything feels off, test early. Gonorrhea spreads fast, even without visible symptoms.
Symptom 1: That Burn When You Pee? It’s Not Always Dehydration
Burning or stinging during urination is the most well-known sign of gonorrhea, and one of the most misattributed. Plenty of guys chalk it up to energy drinks, dehydration, or too much time in the sauna. And sometimes, it is. But when the burn persists or intensifies, especially without fever or urgency like a UTI might cause, it could point to something more serious.
One Reddit user described the sensation like “peeing out glass” for two days before seeking help. Another swore it was a yeast infection and tried antifungals for a week before finally getting tested.
If the burn shows up suddenly, especially after unprotected sex with a new partner, don’t wait. It could be your body’s earliest warning that gonorrhea bacteria has inflamed your urethra, technically called urethritis. And unlike with a UTI, gonorrhea-induced burning often comes with another clue: discharge.
Symptom 2: Drip, Drop, Discharge, What That Weird Fluid Could Mean
You know your body. So when something starts leaking from your penis, and it’s not arousal or post-urination drip, you notice. Gonorrhea discharge is one of the more classic symptoms in men. It can range from clear to white, yellow, even green. Some describe it as sticky. Others say it’s thin and watery. Sometimes it’s only there in the morning. For others, it shows up randomly throughout the day.
One 24-year-old told his doctor it looked like “pre-cum that never stopped.” That discharge is a result of the gonorrhea bacteria triggering inflammation inside the urethra, which pushes out infected mucus. And yes, it can stain underwear. Even if it shows up only once, take it seriously. This isn’t a “wait and see” scenario. Getting tested is fast, and it’s private.
| Discharge Color | Possible Meaning | Common STD Link |
|---|---|---|
| Clear or cloudy | Mild inflammation or early infection | Chlamydia, Gonorrhea |
| Yellow or green | Moderate to severe inflammation, bacterial overload | Gonorrhea |
| Bloody or pink-tinged | Severe irritation or damage to the urethral lining | Needs urgent testing |
Table 1. How discharge color can reflect the severity or stage of STD-related inflammation in men.
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Symptom 3: Painful Testicles, It’s Not Just a Sports Injury
Testicular pain isn’t usually what guys expect from an STD. Most think about STIs as being “pee-related” or only causing discomfort at the tip. But gonorrhea can spread to the epididymis, the coiled tube at the back of the testicles, causing a condition called epididymitis.
It can feel like a dull ache in one testicle, or sharp pain that worsens when walking. Some notice swelling. Others only feel it during sex or ejaculation. One guy described it as “a weight hanging too low.” This isn’t rare, in fact, it’s one of the reasons untreated gonorrhea can cause long-term fertility issues. Left unchecked, epididymitis can scar the tubes that carry sperm, reducing your ability to father children later on.
So if you’re experiencing pain in one testicle and haven’t had trauma or a known injury, get it checked. Especially if there’s discharge, burning, or a recent hookup in your rearview.
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Symptom 4: Itching Inside the Penis, The Invisible Irritation
“It feels like something is crawling inside my urethra.” That’s how one man described the subtle but persistent itching that plagued him for days. Internal urethral itching isn’t as dramatic as burning or discharge, but it’s often a precursor to both. Some guys describe it as a tingling. Others say it’s like pressure or tension inside their shaft.
This itching isn’t always a sign of gonorrhea, but when paired with unprotected sex or other symptoms, it raises red flags. The internal lining of the urethra is incredibly sensitive to bacterial overgrowth. Gonorrhea doesn’t always cause pain right away. Sometimes, it starts with irritation that builds over days.
And here’s the kicker: the more you ignore it, the more the infection can spread upward toward the bladder, prostate, or testicles. That low-key itch you keep noticing in the shower? It might be the first warning.
Symptom 5: No Symptoms At All (Yes, Really)
Here’s the paradox: up to 10% of men with gonorrhea won’t feel a thing. No burn, no drip, no pain. Nothing. That’s why asymptomatic spread is such a problem, especially in networks of casual or anonymous sex partners. You feel fine. Your partner feels fine. But the bacteria is still being passed along, and it’s multiplying in your urethra, throat, or rectum.
One of the most common times men discover they have gonorrhea? During routine testing for something else. Or after a partner notifies them. That’s why it’s critical to test regularly, especially if you’ve had unprotected sex, multiple partners, or your partner has tested positive for any STI.
Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. They might not, and you could still be infectious.
Symptom 6: Sore Throat After Oral? It Might Not Be Allergies
You wake up with a sore throat after a night out. Maybe you went down on someone, maybe not. It’s easy to brush it off, maybe it’s the dry air, maybe it’s from yelling at the bar. But if you’ve had unprotected oral sex, especially with a new or multiple partners, that rawness in your throat could be something else entirely: gonorrhea of the throat, also called pharyngeal gonorrhea.
The frustrating part? It often feels like nothing. When symptoms do show, they mimic common colds, scratchy throat, mild irritation, or that feeling like something’s stuck back there. Some guys even report swollen lymph nodes in the neck or low-grade fevers. But unlike a regular sore throat, this one won’t respond to your usual warm tea and lozenges.
In fact, throat infections often go undiagnosed and untreated, which makes the risk of spreading gonorrhea unknowingly even higher. The only way to confirm it? A throat swab, usually part of a full-panel STI test.
Symptom 7: Rectal Pain or Itching, And Why It’s Not Always Hemorrhoids
Let’s talk about something a lot of men, especially gay and bi men, don’t feel comfortable bringing up: rectal gonorrhea. Whether you engage in receptive anal sex regularly or just once in a while, you’re at risk. And the symptoms don’t always scream “STD.”
Rectal gonorrhea can feel like:
- Persistent itching or irritation inside the anus
- Rectal bleeding (especially during bowel movements)
- A sensation of fullness or pressure
- Mucus-like discharge or spotting on toilet paper
- Painful bowel movements or cramps that feel like gas
Many confuse it with hemorrhoids or even IBS. One 30-year-old said he was sure it was “just a fissure” until his partner tested positive and urged him to get checked. Sure enough, it wasn’t a fissure. It was gonorrhea.
The rectum, like the throat, can harbor infection without screaming symptoms. But it’s just as capable of transmitting gonorrhea to others, or escalating into painful complications if ignored.
Symptom 8: Joint Pain or Body Aches, The Silent Spread
Most people think of STDs as staying in your genitals. But gonorrhea can travel, and when it spreads into the bloodstream, it becomes a condition called disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). Though rare, this form of gonorrhea can attack your joints, skin, and even internal organs.
One early sign? Sudden joint pain, especially in knees, wrists, or fingers, without any injury. It may come with swelling, redness, or warmth. Some people report fatigue, flu-like aches, or skin lesions that look like small red or purple bumps.
Here’s where it gets tricky: most men don’t connect achy knees to an STD. One man with DGI was misdiagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for weeks before his doctor ordered a sexual health panel. His gonorrhea had spread far enough to inflame multiple joints, and he hadn’t even had urethral symptoms.
It’s not common, but it’s serious. If you’ve had recent exposure and notice unusual body aches or joint issues, it’s worth ruling this out fast.
Symptom 9: Urgency Without Frequency, That Need to Pee That Won’t Quit
This one’s subtle: you feel like you have to pee. But when you go, nothing much comes out. Or it takes effort to start the stream. It doesn’t burn, yet, but something feels off. This sensation, often called urinary urgency or hesitancy, can be an early or late sign of gonorrhea, especially when the infection causes inflammation at the bladder neck or prostate.
It’s often confused with prostatitis, anxiety-related bladder tension, or caffeine overload. But when combined with any discharge, testicular discomfort, or burning, it’s a signal. The gonorrhea bacteria irritate the lower urinary tract and create false signals to urinate, even when your bladder isn’t full.
Some men also report needing to urinate more at night, or waking up feeling “unrelieved” after peeing. These symptoms don’t mean panic, but they do mean pay attention. Especially if they started a week or two after new sexual contact.
How Fast Do Gonorrhea Symptoms Show Up in Men?
Timing matters. Symptoms of gonorrhea in men typically show up between 2 and 7 days after exposure. But they can appear as soon as 24 hours, or take as long as 14 days in some cases. Throat and rectal symptoms may take longer to be noticed, or not show at all.
The early window can be confusing. You may have no symptoms during the first few days, feel fine, and think you’re in the clear. That’s often when men unknowingly pass the infection on to others. By the time symptoms become noticeable, the bacteria has already had time to spread within the urethra, or beyond.
This is why experts recommend testing based on exposure, not just symptoms. Especially if you’re in a higher-risk group (multiple partners, anonymous hookups, sex without condoms, or being part of an outbreak region).
| Location of Infection | Typical Onset of Symptoms | Are Symptoms Common? |
|---|---|---|
| Urethra (penis) | 2–7 days after exposure | Yes |
| Throat | 5–10 days (or longer) | Often silent |
| Rectum | 7–14 days | Often silent or mild |
| Joints (DGI) | 2–4 weeks | Rare but serious |
Table 2. Timeline of gonorrhea symptom onset by infection site.
Testing: When, How, and What to Expect
If you’ve made it this far and anything sounds familiar, don’t sit in panic. Sit in power. Testing for gonorrhea is fast, private, and more accurate than ever. Depending on where the infection may be, your provider or at-home test kit will collect one or more of the following:
- Urine sample (for urethral gonorrhea)
- Throat swab (for oral exposure)
- Rectal swab (for receptive anal sex)
STD Rapid Test Kits offers discreet delivery, lab-accurate screening, and even throat/rectal options in some combo kits. If you’re not ready for a clinic, this is a way to act from home, on your terms.
And no, you don’t need symptoms to test. In fact, many men test positive during routine panels, especially if their partner tested positive or they’ve been with multiple partners. If you test positive, treatment is straightforward and usually involves a single shot of antibiotics or oral therapy, depending on local resistance patterns.
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If You Test Positive: What Happens Next?
Let’s say you get your results and it says what you feared: positive for gonorrhea. Deep breath. This isn’t a death sentence. It’s not even uncommon. It’s something that over 700,000 men deal with every year, many without ever realizing they were infected until a partner or test told them.
Your next step is treatment. The current CDC recommendation is an injection of ceftriaxone (500mg IM), a single dose in most cases. Some providers pair it with oral antibiotics, especially if there’s concern about co-infection with chlamydia. Don’t try to self-treat or use leftover meds. Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea is on the rise, and incomplete treatment only makes that worse.
Most symptoms resolve within 1–2 days after treatment begins. But you should abstain from sex for seven full days after the last dose. That means no hookups, no “but we’ll be careful,” no testing the waters. Let the medication work. Give your body a full reset.
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Case Study: “I Got Treated, Then It Came Back”
Marcus thought he’d handled it. Treated, cleared, back to normal. But six weeks later, the burning returned. This time, his partner was furious, and confused. Turns out, Marcus’ original partner never got tested, so they passed it right back during sex. Reinfection isn’t just possible, it’s common. You don’t build immunity to gonorrhea. Every exposure is a new risk.
That’s why it’s crucial to talk to partners, not just current, but recent ones too. Testing and treatment don’t work in isolation. If your partner is untreated, you’re both just ping-ponging bacteria back and forth.
If you test positive, ask your provider about partner services. Many clinics offer anonymous contact tracing or confidential scripts to help notify past partners. Or you can be direct: “I tested positive for gonorrhea. You should get tested too.” It's awkward, but it’s better than passing it on again.
Prevention and Testing Going Forward
After treatment, you’ll want to stay alert. The CDC recommends retesting for gonorrhea three months after treatment, even if your partner tested negative. If you’re at ongoing risk (e.g., multiple partners, anonymous sex, PrEP users), regular screening every 3–6 months is smart, not excessive.
Condoms help. So does communication. But perhaps the most powerful thing you can do is normalize testing. Treat it like brushing your teeth or renewing your passport. Routine. Regular. Responsible. Shame thrives in silence, and gonorrhea loves when people feel too embarrassed to ask questions or get tested.
If you’re ready to check yourself, this at-home combo test kit lets you screen for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and more, in private, in minutes. No awkward waiting room. Just facts and peace of mind.
FAQs
1. Can gonorrhea go away on its own?
Not a chance. It might seem like the symptoms calm down for a while , maybe the burn fades or the discharge dries up , but that doesn’t mean the infection’s gone. Gonorrhea doesn’t just pack up and leave because you drank some cranberry juice and got extra sleep. It hides, spreads, and causes damage under the radar. You need antibiotics. Full stop.
2. How soon after sex can gonorrhea show up?
Fast. Some guys feel it within 48 hours , that telltale sting when you pee or that strange new drip in the morning. But for others, it takes a week or more. And in places like your throat or rectum? It might stay completely silent. If you’ve had unprotected sex and something feels off (or even if it doesn’t), don’t rely on timing. Rely on testing.
3. I feel totally fine. Could I still have it?
Yeah, and that’s the sneaky part. Plenty of guys walk around with gonorrhea and have no idea. No pain, no weird discharge, no clue. But they’re still infectious , meaning they can pass it on to every partner without knowing. It’s one of the main reasons we push regular testing, especially if you’re dating, hooking up, or in any kind of open dynamic.
4. What’s this weird drip coming from my penis?
If it’s not pee, not pre-cum, and you didn’t just finish sex? That drip could be a red flag. Gonorrhea discharge is often cloudy, yellowish, or even greenish. Sometimes it’s sticky, sometimes it’s thin. If it’s happening randomly or especially when you wake up, it’s time to test. Don’t wait for it to get worse , and yes, it usually does.
5. Do condoms really help with gonorrhea?
Big time. They’re not perfect, but they lower your risk dramatically , especially for urethral infections. They don’t always protect against oral or rectal transmission (because skin contact and saliva still play a role), but they’re still your best line of defense. Use them, switch them between partners or orifices, and don’t rely on “pulling out” , gonorrhea doesn’t care about your timing.
6. Why did I get gonorrhea again if I already got treated?
Because you’re human, and bacteria don’t follow etiquette. You can get reinfected any time you’re exposed to it again , even from the same partner if they weren’t treated at the same time. Gonorrhea doesn’t give you immunity. It’s not chickenpox. Every exposure is a fresh roll of the dice. The good news? You can test and treat it again , just do it quickly.
7. Can I really test for gonorrhea at home?
Absolutely. You can do it from your bathroom in less time than it takes to doomscroll TikTok. Kits like the combo at-home STD test let you collect your sample, drop it in the mail (or get results on the spot, depending on the type), and move on with your day. It’s discreet, fast, and honestly kind of empowering. Nobody needs to know , unless you choose to tell them.
8. What happens if I ignore it?
Short answer: it gets worse. Long answer: untreated gonorrhea can spread to your testicles, joints, or bloodstream. It can leave scar tissue in your urethra, mess with your fertility, or make it easier to catch other infections like HIV. Even if it feels like “just a little burn,” ignoring it is like ignoring smoke in your apartment. That fire spreads fast.
9. Do I have to tell my partner?
Yes , because it’s not just your infection. Gonorrhea spreads when people stay silent. You don’t have to call with tears in your eyes. You can text, use a notification tool, or ask your clinic to do it anonymously. But tell them. You’d want to know, too.
10. What if I tested negative but still feel off?
That doesn’t mean you’re wrong , it might just mean you tested too early, or you didn’t test the right spot (like throat or rectum). Some tests only check urine. If symptoms persist, go broader. Retest. Talk to a provider who gets sexual health. Don’t let one test result silence your instincts.
You Deserve Answers, Not Assumptions
If you’re here because something feels off, or even if you’re just being cautious, you’re already doing something brave. Recognizing that your body might be telling you something is not weakness. It’s wisdom. Gonorrhea can be uncomfortable, sure. But it’s also common, treatable, and preventable.
Your next move doesn’t need to involve a waiting room or awkward questions. You can take action on your terms. This at-home combo STD test kit makes it easy to check for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and more. Discreet shipping, fast results, no shame.
So if you’re still wondering, “Is that burning normal?” , don’t sit in anxiety. Get clarity.
How We Sourced This Article: We combined current guidance from leading medical organizations with peer-reviewed research and lived-experience reporting to make this guide practical, compassionate, and accurate.
Sources
2. Gonococcal Infections Among Adolescents and Adults | CDC
3. Gonococcal Arthritis – StatPearls | NCBI Bookshelf
4. Gonorrhea – Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic
5. Gonorrhea: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention | Cleveland Clinic
6. Gonorrhea – StatPearls | NCBI Bookshelf
8. Gonorrhea – MSD Manual Professional Version
Dr. F. David, MD is a board-certified infectious disease specialist focused on STI prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. He blends clinical precision with a no-nonsense, sex-positive approach and is committed to expanding access for readers in both urban and off-grid settings.
Reviewed by: Elise Navarro, MSN, FNP-C | Last medically reviewed: November 2025
This article is only meant to give you information and is not a substitute for medical advice.
