Gonorrhoea: Symptoms and Treatment

Also known as “The Clap,” Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacteria that thrives in warm, moist areas of the body. It is mainly spread through genital contact, although it can also be passed to the throat during oral sex.

Gonorrhoea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, as well as chronic pain and inflammation of the urinary tract. In women it can lead to sterility. In both men and women it can result in blood poisoning, meningitis and arthritis and blindness in newborn babies.

Luckily, the disease is easily treated with a course of antibiotics, which should also be given to the patient’s partner.

A diagnosis is made through detection of bacteria in samples taken from the urethra, cervix, throat or rectum. Further testing should be carried out once treatment is over to make sure the infection has gone.

Symptoms of Gonorrhoea in Women

The early symptoms of gonorrhoea are often mild, and many infected women show no visible symptoms. Some of the most common female symptoms include:

• A burning feeling or pain when urinating.
• Bloody or yellowish vaginal discharge.
• Abdominal pain.
• Bleeding between periods.

Symptoms of Gonorrhoea in Men

Men are more likely to show symptoms, some of which include:

• A Yellowish-white penis discharge.
• A burning sensation while urinating

Other symptoms are itchiness around the rectum, anal discharge and painful bowel movements.

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