What is it?

A highly contagious infection, it can be spread by vaginal, oral, or anal contact. If you get the disease, there is an increased risk of getting other STDs, including HIV. Gonorrhoea is one of the fastest growing STDs in the world and usually causes no symptoms at first.

It can be a major cause of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and infertility in women. In men, it can cause inflammation of the testicles and prostate.

How can I get it?

Any sexual activity with an infected person means that you are at risk of contracting this STI. It can live in the genital tract, throat and rectum of both men and women as well as the testes, penis and semen of males and the vagina of females.

How do I know if I have it?

Although symptoms are typically mild or non-existent, when there are symptoms o, they will usually start between 5 and 30 days after contact and differ slightly between men and women. Symptoms may include:

  • Burning sensation when urinating for both men and women
  • For women, yellowish discharge from the vagina, vaginal bleeding
  • Painful bowel movements
  • For men, painful or swollen testicles
  • Sore throat.

Gonorrhoea testing

Testing at Better2Know is fast, easy and painless. Our clinics will usually ask you to provide a urine sample.  If you require a swab of the throat or rectum we can arrange this for you too, please let our booking team know. Results are available within 7 days from when the sample is received in the laboratory. You can be tested  at any Better2Know clinic around Spain. Please do not urinate for 3 hours prior to getting tested.

Treatment

The infection is curable and can be treated with a course of antibiotics if detected. You can receive a prescription from many of the Better2Know clinics around Spain.

Other Consequences

Gonorrhoea is one of the most important preventable causes of infertility. Most infected women have no symptoms until their fertility is affected. If left untreated, it can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID can lead to infertility and potentially fatal tubal (ectopic) pregnancy.

Pregnant women with the infection can have higher rates of miscarriage, infection of the amniotic sac and fluid, preterm birth, and Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM). Mothers can transmit the bacteria to their unborn child during pregnancy or labour. Newborn infants can develop an infection most commonly in the eyes and may eventually go blind if left untreated.

Men with an untreated infection are more likely to develop prostate cancer.