What is Gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea is a very common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This bacteria lives in the penis and vaginal discharges of infected men and women. However, some people do not show symptoms, which increases the risk of unknowingly passing on or contracting the infection.
What are the symptoms?
In men the symptoms of gonorrhoea may include a burning sensation while urinating and discharge from the penis. Women may not experience any symptoms, or they may have pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, pain with intercourse or bleeding between periods. If not treated gonorrhoea may cause inflammation of the epididymis in men or pelvic inflammatory disease in women, leading to infertility.
How Do I Treat Gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics. Usually this is given as a single antibiotic injection and tablet. You should then follow up your treatment with a re-test around 2 weeks after treatment. You should avoid sexual contact for 7 days following treatment and make sure your partner is treated as well.
Written and reviewed by our qualified team