Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea
is a sexually transmitted infection , caused by a bacterium
Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This infection
is often called ‘the clap’ (from a French word
clapoir meaning ‘sexual sore’).
Like other sexually
transmitted infections, it is especially common in young
people. In the UK, 69% of women and 40% of
men with gonorrhoea are in the 16–24-year-old age group.
In 2003, 24 309 people caught gonorrhoea in the UK.
How gonorrhoea is transmitted
You catch a genital gonorrhoea infection by having sex with
someone who has the infection. Therefore it is very important
to use condoms with a new partner. Also, you can catch a
gonorrhoea throat infection from oral sex.
How do I know if I have gonorrhoea?
Men with gonorrhoea usually develop a discharge from the urethra
(‘pee hole’) and pain when passing urine. These
symptoms start about 3–10 days after catching the infection.
However, some men may have no symptoms so they do not know
they have the infection.
In 7 out of 10 women, gonorrhoea causes no symptoms at all.
Some women develop vague symptoms, such as an increase in vaginal
discharge.
What to do if you think you might have gonorrhoea
If you have a symptom, such as a discharge, or if think you
might be at risk of having an infection, you need a check-up
at a genitourinary
medicine clinic.
Treatment for gonorrhoea
If the clinic finds that you have gonorrhoea, you will be prescribed
a special antibiotic. In many countries gonorrhoea does not
respond to common antibiotics. (This is called ‘resistance’.)
Therefore the clinic will send your samples to the laboratory
to ensure that the antibiotic you are given is the correct
one. You will need check-ups afterwards to make sure the
infection has gone. You must not have sex with anyone (not
even with a condom) until the clinic gives you the all-clear,
and your partner(s) will also need to be tested.
Is gonorrhoea dangerous?
If it is not treated, gonorrhoea can spread to other parts
of the body. In women, it can travel upwards to the Fallopian
tubes. These are the tubes that transport eggs from the ovary
to the uterus. If the Fallopian tubes are damaged by an infection
such as gonorrhoea, the woman may have difficulty conceiving
a baby. Infection in the Fallopian tubes can cause pain in
the lower abdomen (especially during sex), or may not cause
any symptoms. In men, gonorrhoea can spread to the tubing
around the testicle. Gonorrhoea can also spread through the
bloodstream to the joints, causing a painful arthritis.
