Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK. It is easily treated with antibiotics but if left untreated, it can spread to other reproductive organs.
What is it and how do I get it?
Gonorrhoea is a common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is passed from one person to another during sex including vaginal, oral and anal sex (if you don’t use a condom).
You cannot get gonorrhoea from kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery.
What might I notice?
Many people don’t have any symptoms of Gonorrhoea, so they don’t know they have it.
People with vaginas may have more vaginal discharge or their vaginal discharge will be yellow or green. They may have lower tummy pain or pain when doing a wee.
People with penises may have tingling or pain when doing a wee, liquid (discharge) from the penis, pain in their testicles (balls) or discomfort or liquid from the bottom.
Gonorrhoea won’t cause problems if it is found and treated early. But, if you don’t get tested or treated, it can cause pelvic or testicular infection and difficulty getting pregnant in the future. If you do get pregnant, it can cause problems with the pregnancy.
Very rarely, Gonorrhoea can infect the eyes. Eyes may be red or painful. If this happens, it is important to get checked quickly.
How do I get a test?
After sex, it can take two weeks for Gonorrhoea to show positive on a test, so if you do not have symptoms, you should test two weeks after sex. If you have symptoms/signs of Gonorrhoea, you should test sooner.
We test for Gonorrhoea by taking swabs from the vagina, bum or throat or a urine test in people with penises. In many cases, you can take these swabs yourself. We will recommend the best test for you.
You can find out more about self-testing and order a postal kit on our STI page (click on ‘How and where to get a sexual health screen’) or you can use the Service Finder below to find Gonorrhoea testing near you.
If you are aged 13 to 24, and have no symptoms, you can also get a Gonorrhoea test at a Well Wave point.
Service Finder
How do I get treatment?
If you have Gonorrhoea, you will be treated with antibiotics. This is usually an injection in your buttock. You must not have sex for one week after the injection and until all regular partners have been tested for Gonorrhoea and treated too.
Should I tell the people I have sex with?
It is important to tell people you have had sex with that you are being treated for Gonorrhoea, so that they go for testing and treatment too. Your nurse or doctor will help you work out which partners to tell and can help you tell them (if you want help with this). Do not have sex with any regular partners until they have been tested and until you both have finished treatment, or you may get it again.
Gonorrhoea vaccine
Gonorrhoea vaccine (Bexsero) is available at Leeds Sexual Health.
Bexsero was designed to protect against meningitis (meningococcal group B), but can also offer some protection against gonorrhoea. This is because Neisseria meningitidis (which causes Meningitis B) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (which causes gonorrhoea) are closely related. Research indicates that the vaccine can reduce the risk of gonorrhoea by 32 to 42%.
The gonorrhoea vaccine roll-out in the UK is a world-first, and the NHS is making the vaccine available to gay, bisexual and other men* who have sex with men (GBMSM) who have had an STI in the past year, or more that 5 partners over 3 months, due to their higher risk of contracting gonorrhoea. (*cismen or transgender women)
You need two vaccines, at least 4 weeks apart. Possible side-effects include pain at the injection site, feeling mildly unwell and headache.
Mpox, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A and HPV vaccines will be offered at the same time. This is given in schools. It is offered to boys and girls in Year 9 and parent/guardian consent is required. If you didn’t get a school vaccine, it is also available for free from your GP, up to your 25th birthday.
These vaccines can be booked using our Online Form (click self-referral). Or by phoning our care navigators on 0113 843 4495 from Monday to Friday (8:30am to 4:30pm). Or by using our live chat function (Monday to Friday from 1:30pm to 4pm).
Please click here to access our SystmConnect page (then click self-referral to see the available options)
There are many types of contraception available and none are perfect. The Contraception Choices website provides honest information to help weigh up the pros and cons.
