Gonorrhea-- Women may have mild or confusing symptoms, or no symptoms at all. Pain in the lower abdomen, unusual discharge, or a urinary tract infection might be the only tip-offs. We must stress that any pain or unusual symptoms involving your reproductive organs should be checked by a doctor--don't wait until it becomes serious. Men might notice a thick discharge from their penises and feel burning during urination. Gonorrhea can infect the throat and be spread through oral-genital contact. It can cause sterility, arthritis, heart problems, and disorders of the central nervous system. In women, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to ectopic pregnancies, or the formation of abscesses. It is treated with antibiotics. How Common? 360,076 new cases in 1999; it's now up 11% among girls 15 to 19. Help: CDC National Hotline, 800-227-8922.