Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection.
How is it passed on?
Gonorrhoea is passed on through oral, vaginal or anal sex.
It is not spread by kissing, hugging, sharing baths, towels, cups, swimming pools or toilet seats, as the bacteria can’t survive outside the body for long.
Symptoms
Many people have no symptoms, so it is important to test regularly.
Symptoms could occur anytime from a few weeks to many months or even years after infection.
Gonorrhoea can cause a change in vaginal discharge, pelvic pain or irregular periods.
Long term effects
Some women experience long term health problems from Gonorrhoea including reduced fertility or increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Gonorrhoea increases the chance of getting or passing on HIV.
The SH:24 STI test kit
The test is a vaginal swab for women.
Gonorrhoea can take up to two weeks to show up in test results.
Treatment
Gonorrhoea is treated with an antibiotic tablet and an antibiotic injection.
You should not have sex for 7 days after both you and your sexual partner have been treated.
As soon as your test results become available, we will send you a text message to let you know how to get treatment.
Telling your partner
If you have Gonorrhoea, you should tell all of your current partners and anyone else that you have had sex with in the last three months. They may have Gonorrhoea without knowing it, so it is important for them to be tested.
How to avoid Gonorrhoea
Condoms are very effective at preventing Gonorrhoea infection.
You can get free condoms at sexual health clinics.
Regular testing each time you change sexual partner helps reduce the spread of STIs.