What is gonorrhoea?

​

Gonorrhoea is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It has crafty ways of attaching itself to the inside parts of your body, allowing it to set up inside you. The bacterium that causes gonorrhoea doesn’t survive well outside the body, so it needs close contact between people to go from one person to another. But where you’re having close contact with another person, the gonorrhoea bacterium is really good at getting into your body. In fact, anything from kissing and fingering to oral, anal, and vaginal sex can let the gonorrhoea bacterium in.

​

What are the symptoms of gonorrhoea?

​

The symptoms of gonorrhoea can show up differently, depending on what genitals you have. It can show up in your throat and rectum, too. Sometimes, gonorrhoea can have no symptoms at all.

​

For those with a penis, you may notice the following:

​

• Discharge from the penis or rectum

• Redness around the opening of the penis

• Pain when passing urine

• Swollen and sore testicles

• A dry, uncomfortable sore throat.

​

For those with a vagina, you may notice the following:

​

• Unfamiliar vaginal discharge and/or irregular bleeding

• Discharge from the rectum

• Pain when having sex

• A dry, uncomfortable sore throat.

​