Gonorrhoea: How to know if you are infected

After exposure to the bacteria, symptoms of gonorrhoea may appear from 1 to 10 days afterwards. Several months may pass for some people before they get to know that they are infected. Other persons, particularly women, may be asymptomatic (show no symptoms at all).

Gonorrhoea is a common STI, and it is important you know the signs for early identification and treatment.

What are the signs and symptoms of gonorrhoea?

A bacteria known as Neisseria gonorrhoeae is responsible for this bacterial infection. It is contracted through anal, vaginal or oral sex with an infected person. The linings of certain openings in your body known as mucous membranes which are used during sex are areas where most common symptoms appear. These are your rectum, genital tract and throat.

Do you know that your eyes and joints can be affected by gonorrhoea? We will talk about this later on in this article, meanwhile, let us consider the symptoms in people with penises.

Gonorrhoea symptoms in men

Men who have this infection may not show symptoms. However, if they do, the symptoms will include the following:

• A burning sensation while urinating

• Frequent urination

• A painful and swollen testicles

• A penile discharge that has a clear, yellow or green colour

Symptoms of gonorrhoea in women

The symptoms of this bacterial infection do not show up in women easily than men. Signs of gonorrhoea in women is less serious than that in men. Sometimes, you may begin to think that you have an infected bladder. You may experience:

• Pain during sexual activity

• Pelvic pain or pain in the abdomen

• Bleeding post sexual intercourse

• Vaginal bleeding between periods

• Painful urination

• Abnormal discharge from the vagina

Early detection of gonorrhoea is important so that you can have more time to treat it. If you would like to get tested for this infection, feel free to contact our STI Clinic in London. We offer precise diagnostic testing using some of the best testing methods to ensure the results be it negative or positive are very accurate. It is also encouraged that you get regular STI screening since you may not know when you contract this infection. Should you have more than one sexual partner, your chances of contracting the disease are high, so get tested as often as possible.

Your doctor will discuss your sexual health history and examine your symptoms before recommending a test for you. From the result, you will be placed on a course of treatment.

Gonorrhoea symptoms in both men and women

Remember we said your genital tract could be affected with symptoms of gonorrhoea; however, it can also show up in other areas like:

• Rectum - Here, symptoms may range from soreness, itching, discharge, pain during a bowel movement, to bleeding from the anus. Should you be a woman, you can have an infected rectum in the absence of anal sex. This infection can be transmitted to other persons from wiping yourself after using the bathroom

• Throat - You could experience less severe symptoms like a sore throat or swollen lymph nodes

• Joints - What happens here is what is known as septic arthritis (a condition that is caused by the impact of bacteria, causing gonorrhoea on the joints). This causes pain, redness, and swelling in the joint. If you move the joints, it will hurt

• The eyes - Should your hands get in contact with your eyes after you may have touched gonorrhoea infected bodily fluids, you will develop pink eyes (conjunctivitis). Your eyes will become red and swollen when this happens

These are some of the other body parts that could get affected by gonorrhoea. Go for sexual health checks regularly to avoid these occurrences.

When should you consult a doctor?

Schedule an appointment to get screened for gonorrhoea if you discover you have any of the symptoms that have been mentioned above. If your partner is also showing symptoms of the infection, kindly go for a test as you may have contracted the bacteria without knowing. Getting tested at the right centre also matters as poor testing will lead to false results and long-term problems since the infection was not diagnosed on time.

During your consultation, your doctor will review your sexual history to better understand how much risk you're exposed to. They will also discuss your symptoms and time of occurrence.

Testing for gonorrhoea may involve collecting a sample of your urine to test for the presence of the bacteria. Your doctor may also take a swab from:

• Your cervix if you're a woman

• Your urethra if you're a man

• Your throat if you've engaged in oral sex

• Your rectum if you've engaged in anal sex

The sample will be sent off to a laboratory where it will be tested to see if the bacterium responsible for gonorrhoea is present. Your chances of having other STIs, including chlamydia increases if you have gonorrhoea. This is why your doctor may request that you undergo a test for them as well.

There are home test kits for women to test for gonorrhoea. They carry swab which you can use to take a sample from your vagina. This sample is mailed to the laboratory. They will work on it, and send the results back to you. This option is more private, especially for women who prefer a confidential diagnosis.

The kind of treatment you get depends on the result of your test. Gonorrhoea is usually treated with antibiotics. At our private Sexual Health Clinic, we have doctors who are highly experienced in STI screening, and a friendly staff that will make your time at the clinic worth the while. We won't disclose any information regarding your test results and will always respect your wishes. Should you need treatment, we can provide a private treatment if you prefer that. All our patients, both new and existing, are given the best care possible.

You can always book an appointment with us at anytime. We are ready to help you.