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Community data Updated 4 weeks ago

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea

sexual-and-reproductive genitourinary
0 medicines 6 symptoms

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria. It usually affects the genitals, but it can also affect the throat, eyes and anus.

Common Symptoms

green or yellow fluid coming out of the penis pain or a burning sensation when peeing discomfort and swelling of the testicles increased discharge from the vagina pain in the lower tummy, particularly during sex bleeding in between periods or after sex

⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.

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Medicines Commonly Used

⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.

No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.

When to See a Doctor

If you're pregnant and think you might have gonorrhoea, speak to your GP practice or midwife.

Testing for gonorrhoea

If you think you might have gonorrhoea, you can get tested for free. If you have symptoms, book an appointment at your local sexual health service or contact your GP practice. If you do not have symptoms, you can order a home test kit. Services available may vary depending on where you live.

What does a gonorrhoea test involve?

The test for gonorrhoea is simple, painless and very reliable. It involves sending a sample from the area of the body thought to be infected to a lab for analysis.

You usually don't have to be examined by a doctor or nurse and can often collect the sample yourself.

There are two main ways the sample can be collected. One is a swab, where a small cotton bud is gently wiped over the area that might be infected, such as inside the vagina, throat, or inside the anus. The other is a urine sample, for those who have a penis, which is more accurate if it is taken at least 1 or 2 hours after you last passed urine.

People who have had anal or oral sex may have a swab taken from their anus or throat.

Some sexual health clinics may be able to carry out rapid tests and give you your results straight away. Otherwise, you may have to wait up to 2 weeks to get the results.

If you have gonorrhoea, your partner will also be offered testing and treatment.

Treatment

Treatment for gonorrhoea

Antibiotics will treat the gonorrhoea infection. These can be given in pill form or as an injection.

Some strains of gonorrhoea are becoming resistant to antibiotics. This can make it more difficult to treat. You may be tested again 3 weeks later to check the antibiotics have worked.

If there’s a high chance you have gonorrhoea, you may be given treatment before you get your results back.

You may also be offered treatment if your partner (s) is found to have gonorrhoea.

Tell the doctor or nurse if you:

  • are pregnant
  • think you might be pregnant
  • are breastfeeding

This may make a difference to the antibiotic you’re prescribed.

If your infection is untreated you may pass it on to other sexual partners.

If gonorrhoea is left untreated in women, it can spread to the womb and cause a serious condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is a major cause of ectopic pregnancy and infertility in women.

If men are not treated, the infection may spread to the testicles and cause discomfort. This could affect your fertility.

Do not have sex until you and your partner have both finished the treatment. You should also wait until you’ve had the results of the 2 week test to prevent being infected again.

How gonorrhoea is passed on

Gonorrhoea is passed through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex (without a condom).

It can also be passed on by:

  • sharing sex toys that aren’t washed or covered with a new condom each time they’re used
  • infected semen or vaginal fluid getting into your eye
  • it can also be passed to a newborn during childbirth

Reducing the risk of gonorrhoea

The best way to prevent all sexually transmitted infections is to practice safer sex. This means using a condom for vaginal, anal or oral sex.

Other STIs

If you have been diagnosed with gonorrhoea you should get tested for all STIs including:

  • syphilis
  • HIV
  • chlamydia

Gonorrhoea is a health condition that occurs more often in people living with HIV. If you have been diagnosed with gonorrhoea, you should be offered an HIV test. If you have been diagnosed with gonorrhoea but you haven’t been offered an HIV test, you can:

  • speak to your healthcare provider about getting tested for HIV
  • get a free test using one of these options

Testing for HIV when you have gonorrhoea can help with early diagnosis, treatment and preventing passing it on.

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