Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection that is quite common in New Zealand. It is transmitted during oral, vaginal or anal sex and penetration does not need to happen to spread the infection.
You may not notice any symptoms and may not know you have the infection. Infection might cause pain when peeing or when having sex, unusual discharge from the vagina or penis, and, in women, bleeding between periods or after sex.
Gonorrhoea can lead to serious health problems for both men and women if left untreated.
Gonorrhoea can be easily diagnosed through a simple vaginal swab for women, or a swab from the urethra [where pee comes out] in men. In some parts of New Zealand, chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be diagnosed through testing a small sample of your urine [pee]. Find a local clinic now.
Gonorrhoea is treated with antibiotics. Some people may need multiple courses of antibiotics to clear the infection.
Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection that is quite common in New Zealand, especially in people under the age of 25. It is very easy to catch, and easy to treat.
It is transmitted during oral, vaginal or anal sexual contact, and penetration does not need to happen to spread the infection. It can also be passed from mothers to their babies during childbirth.
Some people don't notice any symptoms and don't know they have the infection. Infection might cause pain when peeing or when having sex, abdominal pain or unusual discharge from the vagina or penis. In women, bleeding between periods or after sex might occur, and men might have painful or swollen testicles.
Symptoms can show up within a week to a month of exposure to the infection.
Gonorrhoea can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. In women, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease which can cause infertility. In men, it can lead to infertility, issues with the prostate and ongoing difficulty with urination.
Gonorrhoea can be easily diagnosed through a simple swab: in some parts of New Zealand, chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be diagnosed on the same sample, which means men need only provide a urine sample. Find a local clinic now.
Gonorrhoea is treated with antibiotics. You will need an antibiotic injection and to take a course of antibiotic tablets. A single dose of the right treatment usually cures gonorrhoea. You may need to take antibiotic tablets for up to two weeks if the infection is more serious.
Be aware, there are drug-resistant strains of gonorrhoea that are becoming more common so it may require further treatment. Ensure you have follow-up testing to check the status of your sexual health.
If you are diagnosed with gonorrhoea, you’ll need to inform anyone you have had sexual contact with in the last three months. It is important that they are tested and treated too. Your health professional can help you deal with this situation, or read our page on How do I tell a partner?
You should use condoms or avoid sex for seven days after your treatment is finished, so you don’t pass gonorrhoea on to anyone else.
If you have a partner you should both be treated and either use condoms or don’t have sex until the treatment is completed for both of you, or you risk catching gonorrhoea again.
You should have another sexual health check after three months to check the status of your sexual health.
JUST THE FACTS is brought to you by the Sexually Transmitted Infections Education Foundation (STIEF) - an initiative funded by the Ministry of Health through collective District Health Boards (20) to educate New Zealanders about STIs. District Health Boards (DHBs) are responsible for providing or funding the provision of health services in their district.
The medical information in JUST THE FACTS is based on the STIEF and NZ Sexual Health Society Guidelines for the management of STIs. The New Zealand Ministry of Health supports the use of these clinical guidelines, developed by clinical experts and professional associations to guide clinical care in New Zealand.
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