Gonorrhea rarely kills, so why is it so important to treat it? If left untreated in women, the infection can cause long-term abdominal pain and pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to ectopic pregnancy and infertility.
What happens if you have gonorrhea too long?
Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both women and men. In women, gonorrhea can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The symptoms may be quite mild or can be very severe and can include abdominal pain and fever 13.
How long does it take for gonorrhea to cause damage?
The incubation period, the time from exposure to the bacteria until symptoms develop, is usually 2 to 5 days. But sometimes symptoms may not develop for up to 30 days. Gonorrhea may not cause symptoms until the infection has spread to other areas of the body.
