Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea video.

Gonorrhoea is an STI that affects both men and women and is caused by a bacteria (neisseria gonorrhoea) which can affect the penis, vagina and anus. It can also be caught and passed on by the throat from unprotected oral sex with an infected partner.

Around 50% of women and 10% of men will not show any signs of being infected, so it is possible that they might have gonorrhoea but have no symptoms.

Some men with gonorrhoea will feel pain when passing urine and have a green or yellow discharge coming out of the end of the penis. Some women may notice vaginal discharge, or discomfort when passing urine.

Gonorrhoea in the rectum (anal passage) often shows no signs, but it can cause constipation, pain around the anus, and blood or discharge with bowel movements. There are usually no signs of gonorrhoea in the throat.

Gonorrhoea is easily treated with antibiotics, either in tablet form or sometimes by injection. It is very important that you:

– come back and see the doctor or health adviser for a follow-up visit to check the infection is completely gone
– remember that your partner will also need to be tested and may require treatment too, otherwise, they could infect you again
– avoid having sex, including oral sex, until you and your partner get the ‘all clear’

If gonorrhoea is left untreated, it will not go away on its own and can lead to serious long-term health problems, including possible infertility. If you would like to make an appointment at any one of our clinics, please call 0300 303 0251 (line open: Mon – Thurs: 8am–4:45pm and Fri: 8am–3:45pm). A list of all clinic times and venues is on the Services page of this website.