Everything You Need to Know About Gonorrhoea

Taking control of our sexual health begins with understanding the risks and choices we make. Although India is making giant strides towards being modern and progressive, there’s still a long way to go when it comes to treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). With lesser sex education among people, they are clueless about what needs to be done when they suffer from STIs such as gonorrhoea. Read on to learn about this condition in detail.

What is Gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoea (N. gonorrhoea). Also referred as “the clap” or “drip”, this infection spreads through sexual fluids, including vaginal fluid and semen. You can get gonorrhoea from intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, or sharing sex toys with an infected person.

It is easier to get infected from your partner unknowingly as gonorrhoea often doesn’t cause any symptoms. The best way to reduce your risk of infection is by getting tested frequently basis your healthcare provider’s recommendations and practice safe sex.

Symptoms of Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea may or may not have any symptoms, particularly among women. The symptoms, if any, are also different for men and women.

Symptoms in men include

• Pain or burning during urination

• Yellow/green/white discharge from the penis

• Pain or swelling in testicles

Symptoms in women include

• Pain or burning during urination

• Vaginal discharge

• Vaginal bleeding during periods

• Pain during sexual intercourse

• Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic region

Other symptoms which are common to all genders include fever, sore throat, pain in eyes, and rectal infection.

What Causes Gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoea when it enters your body mostly during sexual contact (through the mouth, anus, vagina, or penis) with an infected person. The infection can be transmitted without ejaculation. It can also spread from mother to child during childbirth. If you have been cured of gonorrhoea, you can get re-infected if your partner has the infection.

Risk Factors

The factors that can increase the risk of gonorrhoea are:

• Women who are younger than 25 years and sexually active

• Having multiple sex partners

• Having a new sex partner

• Having sex with someone who has more than one partner

• Not practising safe sex, like using condoms

• Men having sex with men

• Having a history of gonorrhoea or any other sexually transmitted infections

How is Gonorrhoea diagnosed?

To confirm whether you have gonorrhoea, the doctor will recommend a urine test and a swab of your throat, penis, vagina, or rectum. In some circumstances, depending on the risk factors, you may be asked to undergo tests for other STIs.

Treatment Options for Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is treated with antibiotics. In some cases, oral medication may also be prescribed in addition to the antibiotic shot. After taking medication, you should wait for at least 7 days before participating in any sexual activity because the risk of spreading the infection persists for about a week after taking the injection. You need to again get tested after 1 to 2 weeks of treatment to ensure you have been completely cured of the infection. With the right treatment, gonorrhoea can be cured.

Prevention

There’s no vaccine for gonorrhoea. But here are some ways that can protect from getting infected:

• Practice safe sex by using condoms.

• Before having sex, ensure both partners get tested for sexually transmitted infections.

• Avoid sexual activity if your partner shows symptoms of gonorrhoea, such as pain during urination, genital rash, etc.

• Avoid sex with someone who has gonorrhoea.

• Having a single sexual partner will reduce the risk of infection.

• Regular (annual) screening for gonorrhoea is recommended for sexually active men and women, including those who have more than one sex partner, have new partners, or those with sexually transmitted diseases.