Tulo, also known as gonorrhea, is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD). Despite this, not a lot of people might be aware of the symptoms of tulo, or they might mistake it as something else, such as a urinary tract infection. Read on to learn more about the symptoms of this STD, and what you can do about it.

5 Symptoms of Tulo You Need To Be Aware Of

A lot of STDs share similar symptoms with UTIs. This can be a serious problem especially if someone with an STD thinks that they just have a UTI. This not only leaves the disease untreated, but also increases the risk that they can pass on the disease to others.

The best way to know whether or not you have an STD would be to get tested at a clinic. However, knowing the symptoms of tulo can also help you know if you need to get tested right away, and if you need to avoid having sex until you get treated.

Here are 5 symptoms you need to be aware of:

1. Discharge

The first symptom is having a discharge coming out of the vagina or the penis¹. In men, this should be an immediate red flag as men normally do not have any discharge that comes out of their penis. For women, they might notice that the discharge coming out is out of the ordinary. Any unusual discharge should always be seen as a sign that there might probably be something wrong, so it’s best to get it looked at as soon as possible.

2. Burning Sensation When Urinating

Another possible symptom of tulo is a burning sensation when urinating². This symptom is one of the symptoms that can get confused with a UTI, since persons with UTI can also experience a burning sensation when urinating.

So on its own, this isn’t necessarily a sign that you have gonorrhea. However, a burning sensation when urinating is never okay, so you’ll need to visit your doctor as soon as possible if this happens.

3. Pain and Bleeding

For women with gonorrhea, one possible symptom is pain in the pelvis and lower back/abdomen areas, and bleeding that happens in between periods³. This is a sign that the infection is spreading, so you’ll need to get it looked at by a doctor fairly soon.

In men, pain can also be a possible symptom, particularly in the testicles. However, this is fairly rare and not always a reliable symptom.

4. Conjunctivitis

Gonorrhea can also infect a person’s eyes, particularly if their eyes have been exposed to fluids from the penis or vagina. This can cause conjunctivitis which is an irritation of the conjunctiva or the clear tissue that covers the eyeball.

If you have this symptom and you’ve had semen or vaginal fluid in your eye, it might be a good idea to get tested.

5. If the Symptoms Manifest in Your Anus

Aside from the eyes, gonorrhea can also infect a person’s anus if they have had anal sex⁵. The symptoms are similar to the ones above, such as a discharge, pain, and sometimes bleeding from the anus.

What Should You Do If You Think You Have Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a highly infectious disease, and can spread quickly through exposure to infected fluids. So the best thing to do if you think that you have gonorrhea is to get tested immediately. This is the best way to confirm whether or not you have gonorrhea.

It’s also best to refrain from having sex in the meantime as you can potentially infect others with gonorrhea.

If you do test positive, consult a doctor as soon as possible for treatment. They should be able to give you a prescription to treat the infection. After treatment, it’s a good idea to get tested once more to ensure that the infection has been treated. Only then would you be able to have sex once more.

Learn more about Gonorrhea here.