Overview
Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection that can affect the genitals, rectum and throat. Many women and some men have no symptoms, so it can spread and cause infertility silently. It is curable, but rising drug resistance makes proper testing and prescribed treatment important.
Symptoms
- Discharge from the penis or vagina
- Burning when urinating
- Pelvic or lower abdominal pain
- Pain or swelling in the testicles
- Bleeding between periods
- Often no symptoms at all
Causes & risk factors
- Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected partner
- Multiple sexual partners without condom use
- An untreated infected partner (reinfection)
Treatment & self-care
Treatment is an antibiotic regimen prescribed after testing — self-medicating with leftover or over-the-counter antibiotics fuels resistance and often fails. Sexual partners must be treated at the same time, and you should avoid sex until treatment is complete. Condoms prevent reinfection.
See a doctor urgently if
- Any unusual genital discharge or burning urination
- Lower abdominal pain with fever in a woman
- Painful, swollen testicle
- A partner has been diagnosed with an STI