What is Gonorrhoea? Everything You Need to Know
Gonorrhoea is one of the most common STIs in the UK, but often doesn’t present with symptoms. That’s why regular testing is so important if you’re sexually active. To help you learn more about the condition, and what to do if you think you have it, Your Sexual Health’s Dr Rashid Bani has created this helpful guide so that you can make an informed decision.
Your Sexual Health offers a wide range of private STD tests at clinic locations across the UK and via home testing kits. Gonorrhoea is just one of the conditions that we can diagnose. Learn more below.
What is Gonorrhoea?
Sometimes referred to casually as “the clap”, gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection that is caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria, also known as gonococcus.
The condition is equally common in both young men and women, typically aged between 15 and 24. It is one of the most common STIs in the UK, therefore sexually active young people are at particular risk of contracting it.
However, gonorrhoea often does not present with symptoms, so it can be difficult to know if you have it. The only way to know for sure is to be tested. Gonorrhoea is easily treated with antibiotics if it is caught early. However, if left untreated it can cause a range of severe health concerns pelvic inflammatory disease and possible infertility.
How Common is Gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial STI in the UK after chlamydia. There were 82,592 cases reported in the UK during 2022 (an increase of 50% from 2021) and the majority of these were young men and women who were under the age of 24.
Gonorrhoea Symptoms
As we touched on above, gonorrhoea often doesn’t present with symptoms, making it hard to know whether or not you have it. In fact, one in ten men don’t exhibit any symptoms, and around a half of women don’t experience any symptoms.
It’s important to recognise that some people do experience gonorrhoea symptoms, however. Not everyone will present with all, or the same symptoms, but you can expect to experience some of the following.
Gonorrhoea Symptoms in Women:
The symptoms of gonorrhoea in women include: –
- An unusual vaginal discharge, green or yellow in colour and is thin or watery
- Pain or burning during urination
- Tenderness in the lower abdomen
- A less common symptom is bleeding between periods, heavier periods or bleeding after sex
Gonorrhoea Symptoms in Men:
The symptoms in men include: –
- Discharge at the tip of the penis, which may be white, green or yellow
- Pain and burning sensation during urination
- Inflamed foreskin
- Pain in the testicles, although this is a rare symptom
In some people, gonorrhoea may also present with a distinct smell, often described as being ‘mushroom-like’. Learn more about this in our blog, What does gonorrhoea smell like?
How Long Does it Take for Gonorrhoea Symptoms to Show?
Not everyone will experience gonorrhoea symptoms. But, when they do present, it typically takes around two weeks after initial exposure to the infection for them to show up. Those who don’t initially experience symptoms may begin to notice some appearing after around six months.
Learn more about this in our detailed blog, How long does it take for gonorrhoea to show up?
How is Gonorrhoea Transmitted?
Gonorrhoea is transmitted by having unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex. You can also get the condition by sharing vibrators or other sex toys that haven’t been washed or protected with a clean condom between uses. The bacteria is mainly contained in vaginal fluid or discharge from the penis. It’s important to understand that ejaculation does not have to occur for the bacteria to transmit.
It’s important to recognise that gonorrhoea can be transmitted without having sex. One such way is from mother to baby during pregnancy or delivery. This can go on to cause health concerns in the baby if left undiagnosed.
How Do You Protect Yourself from Gonorrhoea?
Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of contracting gonorrhoea, therefore it is imperative to practise safe sex and be tested for STIs regularly. A few ways to protect yourself and your partners include: –
- Using condoms during vaginal and anal sex
- Using a male condom to cover the penis, or a latex plastic square to cover the female genitals during oral sex.
- Don’t share sex toys. If you do share sex toys, be sure to cover it with a new condom for each person who uses it.
- Get tested for STIs regularly. This doesn’t prevent you from catching gonorrhoea but will lower the risk of passing it on.
How Do You Test for Gonorrhoea?
At Your Sexual Health, we offer a range of private STI tests which can detect gonorrhoea. This includes individual tests, which diagnose one condition, and profile tests which can diagnose a range of conditions at the same time. The gonorrhoea test is grouped with chlamydia and uses a urine sample to give you accurate laboratory results using the latest PCR detection methods.
All private STI tests from Your Sexual Health are available at a range of clinic locations across the country where you simply book an appointment that suits you. You then arrive, deposit your sample and await your results.
We also offer at-home testing kits where you deposit your sample in the comfort of your own home, send it back to us in a pre-paid envelope, and await your results. Learn more about how our home-testing kits work here.
We analyse your samples at one of our high-standard laboratories, before notifying you of the results through your preferred contact method. To find out more about the typical waiting time for different STD results, read our recent blog post, How long does it take to get an STD test result?
How Do You Treat Gonorrhoea?
If your test comes back positive for gonorrhoea, you’ll be offered a complimentary telephone appointment with a private GP for next steps and treatment. In most cases, you’ll be treated with antibiotics; often an injection in the buttocks followed by a single oral pill.
If symptoms are experienced, these will usually begin to subside within a few days after treatment, but it will take two weeks to be cured. You’ll usually need to have another STI test to ensure the infection is cleared. During this period, it’s important to abstain from sexual activity, until you know that the infection has cleared. You should also notify any sexual partners that may have been infected.
Book Your Private Gonorrhoea Test Today
Book your gonorrhoea test today with Your Sexual Health at one of our private clinics nationwide. We offer a wide range of STI testing options in a sensitive and confidential environment, all at a time that suits you.
Gonorrhoea Advice Articles
Looking for more advice and information around gonorrhoea? Check out some of the helpful articles below:
