Although Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia are quite similar bacterial infections and Sexual Health staff are used to finding people infected with them both, this doesn’t seem to be the pattern at the moment. Both infections can have no or only mild symptoms but their long-term results can be devastating. The internal inflammation they cause also make you much more susceptible to HIV and other sexually transmissible infections.

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WHAT IS GONORRHOEA?

Gonorrhoea is a bacterium that can infect the vagina, penis, throat and rectum. It often presents no symptoms and if left untreated it can result in female and male infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (PIV), heart problems, fever, painful joints and rashes.

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HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE GONORRHOEA?

Signs and symptoms for women include:

• Irritating vaginal discharge.                 

• Anal discharge.                                    

• Pain while passing urine.                         

• Pain during bowel movements.         

• Pain during sex.                                        

• Lower abdominal pain (pelvic pain).

• Irregular menstrual bleeding.             

Signs and symptoms for men include:

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• A thick milky discharge from the penis. There may be a slight crusting on the end of the penis from the discharge and in uncircumcised men the discharge may cause reddening and irritation of the penis​

• Pain or burning while urinating          

• Anal discharge.                                     

Men have symptoms more often than women. Symptoms usually occur within 2-10 days after sexual contact with an infected person. When the rectum, cervix or throat is infected there are usually no symptoms.

INCUBATION TIME

Two to seven days. If you experience symptoms within this time period then get them checked out immediately. Twenty-one days (three weeks) is the outside period between exposure and infection for Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia to develop, making it possible for you to test for both at the same time after 21 days from the time of first possible exposure.

HOW IS IT CAUGHT?

It is spread primarily by unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex, but can also be passed during birth from mother to baby resulting in an eye infection for the baby.

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CAN GONORRHOEA BE TREATED?

Detection and Treatment

Diagnosis is made by a microscope examination and the taking of samples from infected areas. Once diagnosed, Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotic tablets.

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What about my partner?

If possible the sexual partner needs to be told so they can be treated too. The best advice is not to have sex until you are cleared. If you have sex you must use a condom.

HOW DO I PROTECT MYSELF AND MY CLIENT FROM GONORRHOEA?

Prevention is by use of:

• Dental dams if the client wants to go down on you to create a barrier between the mouth and vagina or anal areas during sex.

• Condoms during vaginal, anal or oral sex.