Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infections which is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Symptoms
Some people with gonorrhoea have no symptoms.
However, women may experience the following symptoms:
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Abnormal vaginal bleeding e.g. between periods (spotting), after sex.
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Green or yellow discharge from the vagina.
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Pain or burning when urinating (dysuria)
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Pain, discomfort or discharge from the anus
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Pain in the abdomen or pelvis
Diagnosis
If you think you may have gonorrhoea, you should see your doctor or attend a sexual health clinic.
The doctor will ask you about your sexual history and symptoms.
They will also perform an abdominal and pelvic examination.
If the doctor suspects you may have gonorrhoea then they will perform some tests such as swabs of the cervix, mouth and anus as well as taking a urine sample to test for gonorrhoea.
You can also test yourself for gonorrhoea using a home-testing kit.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with gonorrhoea or there is high suspicion that you may have gonorrhoea, your doctor will give you a single injection of antibiotics (ceftriaxone) into your muscle and a single-dose antibiotic tablet (azithromycin).
Your doctor will also advise you to avoid sexual intercourse for 7 days.
You should also contact any recent sexual partners as they may also be infected with gonorrhoea.
This includes any individual with whom you have had sexual intercourse within 6 months.
Complications
If gonorrhoea is left untreated, a woman may be at risk of the following complications:
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Pelvic inflammatory disease
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Infertility
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Complications of pregnancy (e.g. ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth)
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Gonorrhoea infection in babies causes conjunctivitis and increases the risk of blindness.
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Sepsis