GONORRHOEA

What is it?

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection (bug) that is quite common in New Zealand, especially in people under the age of 30. It is very easy to catch, and easy to treat.

In all people it can infect the eyes, throat, and genital tracts (vagina, penis and rectum (bum)).

How do you get it?

Gonorrhoea is transmitted during oral, vaginal or anal sexual contact, or sharing of sex toys. Penetration (full sex) does not need to happen to spread the infection. It can also be passed from mothers to their babies during childbirth.

Symptoms

Some people with gonorrhoea may not notice any symptoms and don't know they have the infection - that is why testing is really important! If they do, symptoms can show up within a week to a month of exposure to the infection. In all people it can cause symptoms from the:


Eye - irritation or discharge.

Throat - usually no symptoms, but can occasionally cause discomfort

  • In people with a vagina

    • unusual discharge or fluid leaking from the vagina
    • pain when peeing 
    • pelvic (low tummy) tummy pain, especially during sex
    • unusual bleeding between periods, or bleeding after sex
    • discharge or bleeding from the anus if there has been anal sex
    • Gonorrhoea can also be passed from mother to baby during birth and may result in an eye infection in the baby.

  • In people with a penis

    • soreness unusual discharge, or itching in the opening at the end of the penis (urethra - where pee comes out)
    • pain when peeing
    • discharge or bleeding from the anus if there has been anal sex
    • painful or swollen testicles

Is it serious?

Gonorrhoea can lead to serious health problems if left untreated, including infertility.

  • In people with a vagina

    If left untreated, gonorrhoea  can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can cause long-term damage to the reproductive system (where babies develop). If the inflammation continues for a long time, it can cause scarring and block the fallopian tubes (tubes that carry the eggs to the uterus where the baby grows), meaning the sperm may not get to an egg, and the person could become infertile (not being able to have babies).



    Mothers should take care at childbirth as gonorrhoea  can be passed to their baby at birth and may result in an eye infection in the baby.

  • In people with a penis

    Untreated gonorrhoea  can lead to a lower sperm count and negatively impact the quality of the sperm. It also increases risk of an inflammation called epididymitis (which affects the tube that carries sperm). This can lead to scarring and eventually lead to infertility. 

How do you get tested?

People with a vagina will have a vaginal swab. People with a penis will have a urine test (pee in a pot).  You can be checked for gonorrhoea by your doctor, nurse or at a sexual health clinic.

  • People with a vagina

    A swab will be taken from your vagina. If you have no symptoms, you can do the swab yourself. If you do have symptoms, a doctor or nurse will need to examine you in case your symptoms are being caused by something else.


    Other swabs may be required (e.g. from the anus and throat) depending on the type of sexual contact you have.

  • People with a penis

     If you do have symptoms, a doctor or nurse will need to examine you in case your symptoms are being caused by something else. They may take a swab from your urethra (where you pee from).


    Other swabs may be required (e.g. from the anus and throat) depending on the type of sexual contact you have.

Treatment

Gonorrhoea is currently easily treated with antibiotics.

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    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. 


    It is important that you have follow-up testing to check the status of your sexual health.

Prevention

Gonorrhoea can be prevented by using condoms correctly every time you have sex from start to finish.


If you have been treated for gonorrhoea, make sure that any current sexual partner/s are 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.


Retest 3 months after you have received treatment to check everything is ok!

Telling your sexual partner/s

If you are diagnosed with gonorrhoea it is important that you tell anyone you have had sex with in the last 3 months. Partner notification is important to prevent reinfection and reduce transmission.

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    If you are diagnosed with gonorrhoea, you’ll need to inform anyone you have had sex with in the last three months so they can get a sexual health check. Where the sexual contact was within two weeks or the person is symptomatic, they should have treatment even if tests are normal. Otherwise, they should be treated if their results are positive.


    Partner notification is important to prevent reinfection and reduce transmission. Your nurse or doctor or sexual health clinic can help you deal with this situation, or read our section on How to tell a partner about STIs?

Note: External genitalia is commonly referred to as the ‘vagina’, although the correct term is actually the vulva. We’ll stick with vagina as that’s the term most people use.