What it is
Gonorrhoea (gon-or-ree-a) is an infection that you get from bacteria that live in the body. You might have heard of ‘the clap’ – that’s another word for gonorrhoea. When you have sex it can pass between bodies. That includes, vaginal, anal and oral sex. You can cure gonorrhoea. But if you don’t treat it, it can turn into some serious problems, like:
- pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- painful testicle swelling
- pregnancy that happens in the tubes, not the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)
- finding it hard to get pregnant (infertility)
How it happens
Gonorrhoea passes in fluids in the vagina, penis, throat and anus. So if you have sex with any of those areas on someone who has gonorrhoea (including orally or rubbing), you can catch it. You might also catch it if you share sex toys.
Protect your body
Use a condom. If it’s a toy, use a fresh condom every time you swap with your partner.
Take the test
Testing is a normal part of being healthy. Get tested every 6 to 12 months for STIs.
The test for gonorrhoea might involve a:
- sample of your wee
- swab inside your vagina
- throat swab
- anal swab
You do the swabs yourself.
If you’re having any symptoms, the nurse or doctor might give you some medicine before the tests are back. The nurse or doctor might offer to take a look. This will help them work out what test you need or how to treat it.
Treat it
You can cure gonorrhoea. Your doctor will prescribe the right medicine for you. Usually, one dose of antibiotic tablets plus an injection is all you need to treat it.
If you have it:
- Think about telling people you’ve had sex with going back 2 months so they can get tested
- Avoid sex until 7 days after you’ve finished your medicine and any symptoms have gone away
And keep getting those regular tests.
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