Experiences with
GonorrhoeaSymptoms of gonorrhoea
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.
Symptoms in women
Gonorrhoea can cause symptoms in women. These symptoms can affect anyone with a vagina:
- a yellow or greenish discharge from your vagina
- burning pain when you pee
- pain in your lower abdomen
- bleeding between your periods (this is rare)
Symptoms in men
Gonorrhoea can cause symptoms in men. These symptoms can affect anyone with a penis:
- burning pain when you pee
- fluid or discharge coming out of your penis
- sore testicles
Gonorrhoea in the anus, throat or eyes
Gonorrhoea can affect other parts of your body that come into contact with semen or vaginal fluid.
This can cause:
- pain, itching and discharge from your anus (bottom)
- a sore throat
- eye redness, pain and discharge
- you or a sexual partner think you might have gonorrhoea
- you or a sexual partner have had sex without a condom
- you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant and think you might have gonorrhoea
You have gonorrhoea (or think you might have it) and:
- your eyes are red, itchy or painful, or you have pus that sticks to your eyelashes
- a high temperature (fever)
- joint pain or swelling
- a bumpy, spotty or blotchy rash
These can be signs of a more serious gonorrhoea infection that needs to be treated quickly.
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online .
What happens at your appointment
If they think you might have gonorrhoea, the doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and sexual partners. They may need to check your penis or vagina.
When you make your appointment, let them know if you’d like someone else to be in the room with you (a chaperone). This could be someone you know, another doctor, nurse or a trained member of staff.
They may use a swab (like a large cotton bud) to take a sample of fluid from your penis or vagina. You may be able to do the swab yourself.
You might also be asked to give a pee sample.
You might have a swab of your bottom (anus), throat or eyes if these areas are affected.
You can be tested even if you do not have any symptoms. You may also have tests for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the same time.
Contacting sexual partners
If you have gonorrhoea, your current and any recent sexual partners will also need to be tested.
A sexual health clinic can help you contact your sexual partners, or they can contact them for you. This can be done without naming you.
Treatment for gonorrhoea
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.
Complications of gonorrhoea
If gonorrhoea is not treated, it can cause serious problems including:
- eye infection (gonococcal conjunctivitis) if you touch your eyes after touching infected fluid from your penis or vagina
- an infection of the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries (pelvic inflammatory disease), which can lead to infertility if not treated
- infection in the testicles or prostate (prostatitis)
The sooner you get treatment, the easier these complications are to treat.
Gonorrhoea in pregnancy
Having gonorrhoea during pregnancy can increase your risk of premature birth and your baby having a low birth weight.
Theres also a risk the infection could spread to your baby's eyes (gonococcal conjunctivitis) during birth. This can cause blindness if it’s not treated with antibiotics.
If you're pregnant and think you might have gonorrhoea, it's important to get tested and treated before your baby is born.
How to prevent gonorrhoea
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 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
complete the full treatment if you or your sexual partner have gonorrhoea
do not share sex toys (if you do, wash and cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them)
Symptoms of gonorrhoea include unusual discharge from the vagina or penis and burning pain when peeing. Sometimes there are no symptoms.
Gonorrhoea is treated with antibiotics, which you can start before you get your test result. You’ll be tested after treatment to check its worked.
You can help prevent gonorrhoea by using a condom during sex and not sharing sex toys.
If it’s not treated gonorrhoea can cause serious complications, including infertility, and an increased risk of premature birth if you’re pregnant.
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