Gonorrhoea
A STI that can cause infertility in men and women. Protect yourself with the facts, right here.
What is it?
An infection caused by gonococcus bacteria, which is sometimes known as 'the clap'.
How is it caught?
Gonorrhoea is generally passed on during penetrative sex, oral sex and anal sex. According to the Health Protection Agency, the number of young people in the UK testing positive for gonorrhoea decreased by 14% between 2004 and 2005
What are the symptoms?
Signs of the infection can start two to ten days after having sex with an infected person.
Males:
- Painful urination;
- Yellowish or creamy discharge from the penis;
- Tenderness in testicles;
- After anal sex - anal itching or discharge;
- After oral sex - sore throat and fever;
- One third of men have no symptoms.
Females:
- Painful urination;
- Yellow or greenish smelly vaginal discharge;
- After anal sex - anal itching or discharge;
- After oral sex - sore throat and fever;
- Over half of women have no symptoms.
Tests and treatment
If you think you might have a sexually transmitted infection, sort it out straight away. Go to your nearest genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, available at most large hospitals. GUM clinics give free and confidential advice and treatment. Or you can make an appointment to see your GP.
The clinic will take a swab from the affected area and a urine sample.
Treatment is normally a single large dose of penicillin (one tablet or an injection).
If it is left untreated
Males:
- Inflamation of the testicles, possible infertility;
- Permanent narrowing of the urethra (urine tube in the penis).
Females:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease - fever, pain, infertility, ectopic pregnancy (the baby begins to grow in the fallopian tubes, not the womb);
- A pregnant woman can infect her baby during the birth, which can blind the baby if it isn't treated.
Reduce your risk of infection. Make sex safer by using condoms every time.
