What is gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI). In men it infects the urethra (tube inside the penis) and in women it infects the urethra and cervix (neck of the womb). It can also infect the rectum and sometimes the eyes and throat.

How do you get infected?

Gonorrhoea is transmitted through contact with genital fluids from the penis and vagina. If you have vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom you may become infected. Other sexual practices such as mutual masturbation or fingering may also result in the spread of infection. Gonorrhoea can also be transmitted from mother to baby during birth. The baby may develop eye or joint infection as a result.

What are the symptoms?

Men are more likely to have symptoms and these usually occur within two to 10 days after infection. Symptoms may include a thick yellow or white discharge from the penis, pain or discomfort when passing urine, redness around the opening of the penis, anal discharge and discomfort. The infection can spread to the testicles, causing pain and swelling. Some men, especially those with anal or throat gonorrhoea, may not have any signs or symptoms.

Most women do not have any signs or symptoms. If they do, these can include unusual vaginal discharge, irregular bleeding, discomfort when passing urine, pelvic pain (especially during intercourse).

Both men and women can have infection with gonorrhea in the rectum if they have anal sex. This may cause rectal discharge or discomfort, but often there are no symptoms.  

What is the test for gonorrhoea?

The best way to find out if you have gonorrhoea is to have a sexual health check. This involves an examination and taking a swab from the end of the penis in men and a swab from the cervix (neck of the womb) in women.

How is it treated?

In most cases a single dose of the correct antibiotic reliably and rapidly cures gonorrhoea. Often chlamydia and gonorrhoea occur together, so you may be given treatment for both infections.

What are the complications of this infection?

If left untreated in women, gonorrhoea can spread to the uterus and tubes causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a condition that may cause infertility or ectopic pregnancies (where the pregnancy develops in the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus). This can lead to chronic pelvic pain.

Rarely, gonorrhoea may spread via the bloodstream to cause severe joint pain and infect other internal organs and skin.

Should sexual partners be treated?

If you have had sex without a condom with your sexual partner(s) it is very likely they are infected with gonorrhoea. It is important that they have a sexual health check and treatment for gonorrhoea, even if they have no symptoms and even if they have a negative gonorrhoea test.

What should I do if I have had a gonococcal infection?

• Follow your doctor's advice about medication carefully. Even if you feel better, finish all the antibiotics. Symptoms may improve in a few days but the bacteria may still be in your body.
• During treatment, sexual intercourse without a condom should be avoided for at least seven days, because the infection can still be transmitted during this time.
• If you receive single-dose treatment you should avoid sex without a condom for seven days after treatment and until seven days after your partner has been treated.
• If you are using a combined oral contraceptive pill you will need to use a condom for 14 days when having sex as antibiotics can affect the reliability of the contraceptive pill. Ask your doctor or nurse if you are unsure.
• After completing the treatment, go back to your healthcare professional after three months for a final check-up to make sure the infection is completely cleared and that you haven't been re-infected. 

Original material provided by Auckland Sexual Health Service. Reviewed by everybody in May 2008.