Gonorrhea: unmasking asymptomatic or atypical infection

Diagnosing a typical case of gonorrhea presents no problem. However, because of the large number of asymptomatic female carriers of the disease, it is mandatory that most sexually active women have routine cultures of urethral and cervical specimens for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The possibility of gonorrheal infection in the anal canal and, in some cases, the oropharynx must also be considered.