TLDR: Gonorrhoea
A common, easily treated STI caused by bacteria. It spreads through vaginal, anal and oral sex, and sharing sex toys.
Often none. If present: unusual discharge, pain when peeing, stomach pain, sore throat or testicle pain. Testing is the only way to know for sure.
Usually a single antibiotic injection. Avoid sex for about a week and tell recent partners so they can test too.
It can lead to serious problems like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), chronic pain or fertility issues.
Use condoms or dental dams and test regularly, especially with new or multiple partners.
Gonorrhoea, sometimes called ‘the clap’, is a common and treatable sexually transmitted infection (STI). It’s one of the most common STIs in the UK among young people, and can be easily treated once identified. Here’s a breakdown of what it is, how you get it, and how to treat it.
What is gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea is a highly contagious sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It’s passed on through vaginal, anal and oral sex, as well as foreplay and sharing sex toys with an infected person.
Symptoms of gonorrhoea
A large number of people may not have any symptoms at all. But if you do have symptoms, they’ll start between two to 10 days after having sex with an infected person.
These can include:
- Discharge from the penis or vagina, usually smelly and yellow or green.
- A burning sensation when you pee
- Stomach pains
- Sore throat
- Aching testicles.
It’s also important to note that if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, it may not be a sign that you have gonorrhoea. The only way to be 100% sure is to test. If left untreated, gonorrhoea can cause serious long-term health problems — including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), chronic pain, or fertility problems.
Gonorrhoea treatment
Luckily, treatment is simple. If caught early, gonorrhoea can be treated with a single-dose injection of an antibiotic.
Let any recent sexual partners know so they can get treated too—even if they don’t have any symptoms. If you’re struggling to communicate with your partner, here are a few helpful tips to get you started:
Be straightforward and honest
Remember, you’ve done the right thing by recognising this and looking after both of your sexual health. Try to stick to the facts to avoid the conversation becoming emotionally-charged.
Reassure them that it’s temporary
Once identified, gonorrhoea can be treated easily. After a successful treatment, your normal sex life can resume after 1-2 weeks.
Show you care
You took a test because you care, and you’re now showing this care towards your sexual partner. You’re prioritising you and your partner’s health and avoiding any future complications.
How to avoid catching gonorrhoea
Using a condom or dental dam every time you have any kind of sex — oral, vaginal, anal and using sex toys — can protect you.
As you can get gonorrhoea in the eye and throat as well it’s really important to wash your hands after any sexual contact.
The best way to protect yourself from gonorrhoea (in fact any type of STI) is to limit the number of sexual partners you have and try to ask them about their sexual history – the more partners they’ve had, the higher the risk of infection.
Managing your emotions
Finding out that you’ve got gonorrhoea can bring up a lot of emotions, all of which are completely valid. It’s important to look after your mental health during this time and remember that syphilis can be easily treated.
If you’ve read this far, then you already know the right steps to take in managing your sexual health. However, if your sexual health is affecting your mental health then it might be good to talk about it.
The Mix Community is a place to chat about anything you might be going through with other young people.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or anxious about your upcoming results, here are a few things that might help:
Write down all of your worries
Our minds get really busy when we receive unexpected news. A great way to slow them down is to write out all of your thoughts on paper or your phone. This allows you to tackle each thought one by one and gives you back a sense of control. If you have any unanswered questions then make a note of them and ask your GP.
Limit screen time
When we’re feeling anxious about our health we’re more likely to doomscroll. This is when we search endlessly through the internet for information that either confirms or denies our thoughts. While finding relevant information about your sexual health can be beneficial, it’s easy to get lost down an internet rabbit hole.
Make sure to take breaks, set boundaries and limit your screen time if you find that you’re spending a lot of time browsing information that isn’t ultimately helpful.
Be proud of yourself
Receiving a positive STI test may affect your self-esteem and produce negative feelings. It’s important to remember that you have done the right thing by prioritising your health and the health of others.
For more resources on how to manage your mental health, check out our Mental Health section.
Published
