Download a factsheet on gonorrhoea (PDF 57 KB)

What causes gonorrhoea? A bacteria called neisseria gonorrhoeae.

How is gonorrhoea spread? By unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex.

An infected mother can pass gonorrhoea on to her baby during birth, which can cause blindness. 

Symptoms: Often there are no symptoms. If there are symptoms, they can include:

Females:		Males:
an unusual vaginal discharge pain when passing urine pain during vaginal sex pain in the lower belly.		a yellow discharge from the penis burning sensation when passing urine.

A sore throat or discharge from the rectum could also be symptoms of gonorrhoea after oral or anal sex in both males and females.

Untreated gonorrhoea can cause infertility in both men and women.

How do you get tested for gonorrhoea?
Females have a urine test and swabs taken from the cervix or vagina.
Males have a urine test and/or a swab taken from the urethra.

What is the treatment for gonorrhoea? Antibiotics.

How can you minimise the risk of contracting gonorrhoea? Always use a condom. Avoid sex with casual partners and/or decrease your number of sexual partners.

Have a check-up for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) if you have had:

• unsafe sex
• a new partner
• symptoms.

Visit the "Where can I go for help?" webpage to find out where you can get an STI check-up