What to do
Get Tested!
A doctor or a nurse at your local clinic will take a sample of any place that may be infected.
If you have gonorrhoea then you will be given antibiotics. Treatment is essential.
You must let any partners from the last 6 months know in case they have it too.
Long term effects
If left untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women. This can cause fever, pain and can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy (where the baby begins to grow outside the womb) or giving birth to the baby early.
In men, if left untreated, it can lead to inflammation inside the testicles and prostate gland and may affect fertility.
Signs and Symptoms
What to look out for
It is possible, although rare, to be infected with gonorrhoea and have no symptoms.
Women - symptoms may include:
- A change in vaginal discharge. This may increase, change to a yellow or greenish colour and it might smell different.
- A pain or burning sensation when peeing.
- Irritation and/or discharge from the anus.
- A sore throat - if infected there.
Men - symptoms may include:
- A yellow or green discharge from the penis.
- Irritation and/or discharge from the anus.
- Inflammation of the testicles and prostate gland.
- A sore throat - if infected there.
Gonorrhoea
'the clap'
Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), also known as 'the clap'.
Getting it
You can get gonorrhoea in the following ways:
- Penetrative sex (when the penis enters the vagina or anus).
- Oral sex (from mouth to the genitals or genitals to the mouth).
And less often by:
- Rimming (where a person uses their mouth and tongue to stimulate another person's anus).
- Inserting your fingers into an infected vagina, anus or mouth and then putting them into your own without washing your hands in between.
- Sharing vibrators or other sex toys.
