…to enable choice
…to ensure rights
…to increase skills
…with compassion and care
What is it?
In the UK, gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial infection after Chlamydia; though less common it can also lead to infertility in men and women.
Gonorrhoea is caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus. It is found in the seminal and vaginal fluids of infected people. This bacteria can live in the cells of the cervix, the urethra, the rectum and the throat.
It is passed from one person to another through:
It cannot be passed on by kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery.
Gonorrhoea can be passed on from one person to another without penetration, orgasm or ejaculation.
How will I know if I’m infected?
Symptoms usually develop within a couple of weeks of exposure to the infection however for some people, it can be months later.
Symptoms include:
Women:
Men:
The only way to be absolutely sure is to be tested
How can I get rid of it?
Testing for gonorrhoea involves either a urine test or a swab test. The swab is like a small cotton bud and is used to collect a sample of the discharge from the tip of the penis or the inside the vagina. Women can choose to take the swab from inside the vagina themselves.
For those who have have had oral or anal sex a swab may be taken from their throat or rectum.
The process of taking the swabs may be uncomfortable but should not be painful. Men are able to provide a urine sample.
If your partner has tested positive or you are considered to have a high chance of being infected with gonorrhoea, you may be automatically given treatment even before any results are back.
It is possible to buy gonorrhoea self-tests to do at home but their accuracy varies.
If you’ve had unprotected sex, gonorrhoea is only one of the STIS that you could have contracted. Having no symptoms is not an excuse to not test for STIs. If you’ve had unprotected sex, don’t leave it to chance…., have a test as soon as you can.
Testing for gonorrhoea is free – it is the only way to be completely sure if you are infected or not. If left untreated, gonorrhoea can cause real damage to your body.
Ask us for advice or contact your local sexual health services. See NHS Choices website for local services: www.nhs.uk
Antibiotics are prescribed, usually an antibiotic injection or a single-dose of tablets. This treatment will not make you immune from getting it again.
If left untreated, gonorrhoea can spread to other parts of your body and may cause infertility.
You will be invited to repeat the test in two–four weeks to confirm you are clear of the infection.
After treatment symptoms should improve quickly however you should seek advice if:
You will be advised to avoid having sex until you have been advised that the infection is treated. This is to prevent reinfection or passing the infection on.
As wilth all STIS, it is important to inform your current and any recent sexual partners that you are being treated for gonorrhoea, so that they go for treatment too. In the UK it is recommended you tell any sexual partners you have had over the last six months.
You will need to tell the clinic of any medication you are taking or any health problems that you have so the most appropriate treatment can be given.
Using condoms during sexual intercourse can prevent STIs. If you have a new partner, it is a good idea for you both to be tested for sexually transmitted infections before having sex.
