Sexually active persons can contract Gonorrhoea, just like every other STD. Untreated Gonorrhoeacan bring about severe complications; however, with the right medication, it can be cured.

Gonorrhoea Defined

This is a common STD (sexually transmitted disease) in sexually active males and females, especially between the ages of 15 to 24. Gonorrhoeacan infect the throat, genitals, and rectum.

How is Gonorrhoea Transmitted?

Having unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex with an infected person can give you Gonorrhoea. A gonorrhoea-infected pregnant mother can pass on the infection to her baby during delivery.

How can you lower your chances of contracting Gonorrhoea?

Abstinence from every form of sex be it anal, oral, or vaginal sex remains the best way to prevent STDs. However, should you be a sexually active person, the following measures can minimise your risk of getting the infection:
• Correctly using latex condoms whenever you engage in sexual activity
• Maintaining a sexually monogamous relationship with a tested and STD-free partner

Who is at risk for Gonorrhoea?

Everyone that is sexually active can contract Gonorrhoea via unsafe sexual intercourse, be it vaginal, oral, or anal. Should you be sexually active, do well to have an open sexual health talk with your doctor and find out if you should take a Gonorrhoea test or other STD screening. Men sleeping with other men or who are bisexual should take a Gonorrhoea test annually. Sexually active women below 25 years or an older woman having risk factors like new or several sexual partners, or an infected sex partner should go for annual Gonorrhoea screening. Should you test positive, you can get treated for Gonorrhoea at STD Check London. For more information visit here: https://www.stdcheck.london/gonorrhoea-testing

What about pregnant mothers who're Gonorrhoea-infected?

You can spread Gonorrhoeato your child at birth if you're pregnant and have this infection. This could lead to severe health issues for your newborn. So, should you be pregnant, discuss with your doctor so you can get properly diagnosed, tested, and treated accordingly. Early treatment of Gonorrhoeacan lower the health complications for your child.

What are the signs and symptoms of Gonorrhoea?

Certain gonorrhoea-infected males may be asymptomatic (show no symptoms). But for males who show symptoms, it may be:
• Painful or swollen testicles (very rare)
• A penile discharge that's whitish, greenish, or yellowish
• A burning sensation when urinating

Symptoms do not appear in many women having gonorrhoea. Should a woman have symptoms, they are sometimes less serious and can be mistaken for a vaginal or bladder infection. However, even when women have zero symptoms, they stand a chance of developing severe complications.

Women can have symptoms like:

• Vaginal bleeding between periods
• Pain or burning sensation while urinating
• Severe vaginal discharge

Gonorrhoeain the rectum may not or may cause symptoms in men and women, including:
• Soreness
• Painful bowel movements
• Bleeding
• Discharge
• Anal itching

Should you notice any of thegonnorrhoea symptomsabove or should your partner be having an STD or its symptoms like smelly discharge, pain when urinating, bleeding between periods, or an unusual sore, kindly see a doctor for examination.

What test is done for gonorrhoea?

Urine test is used most of the time to diagnose Gonorrhoea. But if you've had anal and/or oral sex, samples may be collected from your rectum and/or throat using swabs. Sometimes a sample can be taken from a woman's cervix (womb opening) or a man's urethra (urine passage) using a swab.

Does Gonorrhoea have a cure?

Sure, this infection can go away with the appropriate treatment. Taking all your infection medications as prescribed by your doctor is apt. Do not share your Gonorrhoea medication with anyone. Even though medication will put an end to the infection, it won't reverse any permanent damage that has been caused by the disease.

Some drug-resistant strains of Gonorrhoeaare on the rise; it is becoming increasingly difficult to treat some gonorrhoea. Should your symptoms persist beyond a few days after treatment, please see your doctor for further examination.

When can I have sex after Gonorrhoeatreatment?

7 days after completing all medications is the right time to have sex. To prevent passing Gonorrhoeaback and forth between you and your partner, stay away from sex until both of you have finished treatment. Should you have been treated for Gonorrhoeain the past, having unsafe sex with an infected person can give you the disease again.

What happens if you are not treated?

Long-term complications can arise when Gonorrhoea isleftuntreated. Women with untreated Gonorrhoeacan develop pelvic inflammatory disease, PID.

Some PID complications include:

• Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb)
• Long-term pelvic or abdominal pain
• Infertility
• Scar tissue formation that causes the blockage of the fallopian tubes

Men with treated cases of Gonorrhoeacan develop pains in the tubes attached to the testicles. This can cause infertility in men, although it's rare. It is less common for untreated Gonorrhoeato spread to your joints or blood, however, this condition can be life-threatening.

Your risks of having or spreading HIV (the virus causing AIDS) can be increased when Gonorrhoeais not treated.

Need more information and help?

If you are experiencing symptoms of Gonorrhoea and don't know what to do, you can contact us at STD Check in London for further enquiries about Gonorrhoea and how you can be treated. Remember that your overall well-being is impacted by your sexual health. Do well to inform your doctor if you're not sure of any changes in your body functions. Getting diagnosed is important.

Reach out to us today on 020 37457523.