Gonorrhoea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause serious health problems such as infertility in both men and women. We’ve compiled all you need to know about this nasty STD!

Causes

Gonorrhoea is caused by bacteria which are found mainly in the vaginal fluids and semen of men and women who have the infection. It is passed on by sexual contact with an infected person, and the bacteria can live inside the cells of the cervix, the urethra, the rectum, the throat and sometimes the eyes. If the bacteria reaches the eye this can cause conjunctivitis, however it is uncommon in adults.

Signs & Symptoms

Women

• Unusual discharge
• Pain when urinating
• Lower abdominal pain and tenderness
• Rarely bleeding between periods or heavier periods
• Infection in rectum
• Infection in throat
• Infection in the eyes

Men

• Unusual discharge
• Pain when urinating
• Pain or tenderness in testicles

How do I know if I have Gonorrhoea?

The only way to be certain you have gonorrhoea is if you have a test. If you think you may have caught the infection it is important that you get tested as soon as possible.

There are various reasons you should get tested:

• You have symptoms
• You have recently had unprotected sex with a new partner
• You or your partner have had unprotected sex with other partners
• A sexual partner tells you they have an STI
• You have another STI
• You are pregnant or planning a pregnancy

Even if your partner has tested negative – it is still possible that you could have gonorrhoea. So don’t rely on your partners result. If you have gonorrhoea it is recommended to test for other sexually transmitted infections as you can have more than 1 at the same time. This is why Confidante test for the 10 most common STI’s, to give you better peace of mind.

Treatment

The treatment is 95% effective, this is done by taking antibiotics. It can involve having an antibiotic injection and a single dose of tablets. Not everyone who has gonorrhoea has complications. However, without effective treatment can spread to other parts of the body. The more times you have had gonorrhoea, the more likely you are to have complications with the infection.

In women, gonorrhoea can spread to other reproductive organs causing pelvic inflammatory disease. This can lead to long-term pelvic pain, infertility and ectopic pregnancy (when the pregnancy develops outside the uterus.) In men, it can cause a painful infection in the testicles and possible reduce fertility. Less typically, gonorrhoea can cause inflammation of the joints and tendons, and skin lesions.

Get your Confidante test today and be confidant that you don’t have gonorrhoea. Contact a member of our team for more information, Here!