Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that remains a major public health concern globally.
During 2014 to 2018, in the USA, gonorrhoea cases increased by 67%, and between 2012-2016, Australia saw a 63% rise in gonorrhoea notification rates.
1. 80-90% OF WOMEN AND 10-15% OF MEN WITH GONORRHOEA HAVE NO GENITAL SYMPTOMS
SYMPTOMS OF GONORRHOEA INFECTION
MEN:
penile discharge
burning pain on urination
painful, red swollen testes
WOMEN:
vaginal discharge
burning pain on urination
pain during intercourse
intermenstrual bleeding
IF THE ANAL AREA IS AFFECTED:
anal discharge
anal irritation
painful defecation
change in bowel movements
Be aware though that up to 80-90% of women and 10-15% of men have no genital symptoms.
2. GONORRHOEA IS SPREAD BY VAGINAL, ORAL OR ANAL INTERCOURSE
Gonorrhoea is spread by vaginal, oral or anal intercourse. The best protection against gonorrhoea is to always use barrier protection such as condoms
3. TESTING FOR GONORRHOEA IS RELATIVELY NON-INVASIVE
Testing for gonorrhoea is performed on a first pass urine sample (the first bit of urine you pass ideally first thing in the morning) or on a swab from the urethra, cervix, throat and anus.
4. GONORRHOEA IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO TREAT
Gonorrhoea can be treated by the right
antibiotics, however, gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. There are fears that the development of more widespread resistance to treatment will soon result in there being no antibiotic available that will be effective in treating gonorrhoea infection. If you are taking antibiotics for gonorrhoea, it is very important that you take the entire course of antibiotics as prescribed. After treatment, your doctor will ask you to have a repeat test to ensure the treatment has been successful.
5. GONORRHOEA CAN INCREASE YOUR RISK OF CONTRACTING HIV
Gonorrhoea infections can increase the risk of contracting HIV by five times. If you are living with HIV and you also have gonorrhoea, your viral load will increase and you will be more likely to pass on HIV if you have unprotected intercourse.
6. GONORRHOEA CAN CAUSE INFERTILITY IN WOMEN
Gonorrhoea is one of the infections that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which is an infection of the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes. As well as vaginal discharge and pain on urination, women with PID can present with a fever, lower abdominal pain, pain on intercourse and bleeding after intercourse. If PID is not treated early, it can lead to permanent scarring of the female reproductive tract and cause infertility.
7. GONORRHOEA CAN AFFECT YOUR PREGNANCY
Gonorrhoea infection can cause ectopic pregnancies, a pregnancy in the fallopian tube (instead of the uterus), which can be life-threatening for the woman.
If a woman has a normal intra-uterine pregnancy (a normal pregnancy in the uterus), gonorrhoea can cause premature labour. The mother can also pass on the infection to her unborn baby. Gonorrhoea can cause severe eye infections in the newborn which can lead to blindness.
8. YOU SHOULD INFORM YOUR SEXUAL PARTNERS
If you are diagnosed with gonorrhoea:
Inform all sexual partners in the last 3 months that they have been a contact of gonorrhoea. This can be done anonymously
Advise your recent sexual partners they should be tested
Do not have intercourse with any of these recent sexual partners until one week after they have also been treated
9. YOU CAN CONTRACT GONORRHOEA MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFETIME
Gonorrhoea is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. Once the bacteria is treated it is no longer in your system. Your body does not develop antibodies to the bacteria so you will not be immune to future infections. If you have future unprotected intercourse with someone who has gonorrhoea, you can become infected again.
10. IF YOU ARE SEXUALLY ACTIVE, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER SCREENING
For those who are sexually active, consider regular testing if you have multiple sexual partners and also consider testing prior to having intercourse with a new sexual partner.
Gonorrhoea is most commonly diagnosed in men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM should be screened for gonorrhoea (and chlamydia, syphilis and HIV) every 12 months. If you have multiple sexual partners, you should be screened more often. It is important to keep in mind that most men with sexually transmitted infections have no symptoms.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are also at a higher risk and should also be screened for gonorrhoea if sexually active.
Testing needs vary from person to person, hence, it is best to speak with you doctor regarding your testing needs.
If you have any further questions or have any symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection like gonorrhoea, speak with your doctor as soon as possible.
Dr Lufi and Dr Leah
Comments