Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacteria that can affect the genital, rectal and oropharyngeal (throat) areas of both men and women.

Symptoms typically emerge within two weeks after sexual contact with an infected person. They include:

• For women: Vaginal discharge, painful or burning sensation when urinating, lower abdominal pain, bleeding between periods and pain during intercourse. 
• For men: Burning sensation while urinating, pus-like discharge from the penis and less commonly painful or swollen testicles. 
• Both men and women can have rectal infection and have symptoms such as discharge, itching, pain and bleeding from the rectum. 
• Infection with gonorrhoea in the throat seldom causes symptoms but some people experience soreness. 

Even though people who have the infection might not have any symptoms, they can still pass it to their partners during sex. If the infection is not treated, it can remain in the body and spread to other people.

Left untreated, gonorrhoea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women when the infection spreads further in the upper genital tract. PID may cause pelvic pain, discharge and bleeding but may also be without specific symptoms. Without treatment, gonorrhoea can also spread into the fallopian tubes and lead to ectopic pregnancy or infertility. In men, gonorrhoea can also cause infertility, although this is uncommon.

Gonorrhoea can in rare cases spread to the blood and joints. 

Key facts

Risk for people 

People who have had gonorrhoea in the past may get it again later. Some people are more likely to get it, such as those who have many different partners or have sex with more than one person at the same time, in addition to people who do not use condoms, whose partners have the infection, or who engage in risky sexual behaviour. 

Younger individuals, especially those under the age of 25 years, and men who have sex with men are also more likely to be infected. Those who have had other sexually transmitted infections or are HIV-positive, along with sex workers, are at higher risk.

How it spreads

Gonorrhoea most commonly spreads when people have unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. The infection can also be passed from a mother to her baby during childbirth.

Treatment

Gonorrhoea is treated with antibiotics. Anyone infected should be treated immediately to prevent complications and spread. Ideally, recent sexual partners should also be treated. 

Protective measures

Practising safer sex and getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the best ways to prevent infection and reduce the spread of the infection. This includes using condoms for vaginal, anal and oral sex. It is a good idea for sexual partners to get tested before having sex without a condom. If that is not possible – it is good to get tested afterwards. Getting tested regularly is important for those with many sexual partners.