What it is
Gonorrhoea is a STD caused by bacteria, which can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility if left undiagnosed. The bacteria usually affects the genitals, but it can also affect the throat, rectum, or eyes. You may have heard gonorrhoea being referred to as ‘the clap'.
How you get it
Gonorrhoea is passed on through unprotected sex of all kinds, including oral sex. It is easily spread with or without symptoms so make sure you protect yourself and use a condom. It can also be passed from a pregnant mother to her foetus.
The symptoms
It's a tricky one because in five out of every six cases, there are no symptoms. So if you have contracted gonorrhoea you may not even know you have it. But you should be on the look out for vaginal discharge, itchiness or swelling of the vagina, abdominal pain, pain during sexual intercourse and a burning sensation when urinating. Since gonorrhoea can also affect the throat (usually due to oral sex), it may cause a sore throat.
Treatment
Gonorrhoea is easy to treat with antibiotics. So take a trip to your doctor and get checked out. But remember that condoms are the easiest and the best preventative!
The advice provided in this material is general in nature and is not intended as medical advice. If you need medical advice, please consult your health care professional.
