Gonorrhoea
Overview
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) passed on through unprotected sex (sex without a condom). It's treated with antibiotics. If it's not treated, it can cause serious health problems.
Symptoms
Not everyone gets symptoms of gonorrhoea. So it's important to get tested if you think you might have it. If you do get symptoms, they usually start around 2 weeks after infection, although they sometimes do not appear until many months later. Gonorrhoea can cause symptoms in women. These symptoms can affect anyone with a vagina: a yellow or greenish discharge from your vaginaburning pain when you peepain in your lower abdomenbleeding between your periods (this is rare) Gonorrhoea can cause symptoms in men. These symptoms can affect anyone with a penis: burning pain when you peefluid or discharge coming out of your penissore testicles
Causes
Bacterial STI (Neisseria gonorrhoeae). Spread via unprotected sex (vaginal/anal/oral).
Treatment
Gonorrhoea is treated with a single dose of antibiotics, which can be an injection or tablets. You can start treatment before getting your test results. You'll need to go back to the GP surgery or sexual health clinic about a week after starting treatment to be tested again to check you no longer have gonorrhoea. Do not have vaginal, anal or oral sex until you and your sexual partner (if you have one) have completed treatment and tests show you no longer have gonorrhoea.
Prevention
Gonorrhoea is spread through vaginal fluid and semen. It can pass from person to person by having vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom. If you have gonorrhoea when you're pregnant, it can also pass to your baby during birth. There are some things you can do to avoid getting gonorrhoea and spreading it to others. use condoms when you have vaginal or anal sex use condoms when you have vaginal or anal sex use condoms to cover the penis or a latex or plastic square (dam) to cover the vagina if you have oral sex use condoms to cover the penis or a latex or plastic square (dam) to cover the vagina if you have oral sex get tested once a year, or if you have a new sexual partner get tested once a year, or if you have a new sexual partner complete the full treatment if you or your sexual partner have gonorrhoea complete the full treatment if you or your sexual partner have gonorrhoea get vaccinated if you're offered the MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea get vaccinated if you're offered the MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea do not share sex toys (if you do, wash and cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them) do not share sex toys (if you do, wash and cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them)
When to see a doctor
See GP/Sexual Health Clinic if: symptoms appear; partner has it; unprotected sex with new partner.