What is gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection.
About 50% of women and 10% of men don’t experience any symptoms and are unaware they’re infected.
You get Gonorrhoea by:
- Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
- Sharing sex toys when they’re not washed or covered with a new condom
- Sexual fluid from the penis or vagina even without penetration
- The infection can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby
- Gonorrhoea cannot be passed on through casual contact, including kissing and hugging, or from sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or cutlery
What are the symptoms?
In women, gonorrhoea can cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating, a vaginal discharge (often watery, yellow or green), pain in the lower abdomen during or after sex, and bleeding during or after sex or between periods, sometimes causing heavy periods. In men, gonorrhoea can cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating, a white, yellow or green discharge from the tip of the penis, and pain or tenderness in the testicles. It’s also possible to have a gonorrhoea infection in your rectum, throat or eyes.
Getting tested for gonorrhoea
Testing for gonorrhoea is done with a swab test of the discharge. It can also be diagnosed by a urine test.
You don’t always have to have a physical examination by a nurse or doctor.
Anyone can get a free and confidential gonorrhoea test at a sexual health clinic, a GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinic or a GP surgery.
Treating gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is easily treated with antibiotics. You will be re-tested 1-2 weeks after treatment to confirm that the infection has been successfully treated.
Preventing gonorrhoea
- Use a condom every time you have vaginal or anal sex
- Use a condom during oral sex
- Don’t share sex toys