GONORRHOEA
This is a bacterial infection. It is sexually transmitted and can infect the cervix, urethra, rectum, anus, throat and eyes.Signs and Symptoms
It is possible to be infected and have no symptoms. Men are far more likely to notice symptoms than women
Women:
There may be a change in your vaginal discharge - it may increase, change in colour and/or develop a strong smell.
You may also experience:
- pain or burning when passing urine.
- irritation and/or discharge from the anus
- bleeding after having sex.
- pelvic Pain
Men:You may experience:
- Burning sensation when passing urine, (dysuria)
- Penile discharge
- Irritation and/or discharge from the anus
- Inflammation of the testes and prostate gland causing pain
How Gonorrhoea is passed on
It is passed on by penetrative sex and less often by rimming (using mouth/tongue to stimulate another person's anus).
Symptoms usually appear between two to five days after acquiring the infection. If you are worried about Gonorrhoea but do not have any symptoms it is sensible to wait for fourteen days after a particular exposure to be testedTests for Gonorrhoea
This involves a genital examination by a doctor. Swabs are taken from whichever place that may be infected. A sample of urine may be taken. Women may be given an internal pelvic examinationDiagnosis and Treatment
Samples taken during the examination are looked at under a microscope in our laboratory to check for infection - the result may be available immediately with confirmation in 24 hours. Treatment is easy but essential - antibiotics called cephalosporins are given as a single dose either by mouth or by injection. A second antibiotic, either Doxycycline or Azithromycin, is also taken in addition. It is important to finish any course of treatmentFollow-up
A check-up is sometimes recommended at leaat 10 days after treatment to ensure the infection has gone. You should not have penetrative sex until you have returned to the clinic and been given the all-clear. Your sexual partner(s) should also receive treatment.Complications
Women
If left untreated gonorrhoea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (see section on PID). This can cause fever, lower abdominal pain, backache and pain on having sex. (See section on chlamydia)
The infection can be passed onto a baby if you're pregnant. If a baby is born by vaginal delivery to a woman with untreated gonorrhoea there is a risk of a gonococcal conjunctivitis in the child - a severe eye infection requiring intense antibiotic treatment.
Men
Gonorrohoea can cause inflammation of the testicles and the prostate gland, which causes pain. Without treatment a narrowing of the urethra or abscesses can develop.