Symptoms in men usually show within 10 days but it’s common for women to have no symptoms.

Gonorrhoea in the penis often causes:

• a yellowish, white or green discharge 
• a burning feeling, especially when urinating 
• swelling of the foreskin.

Gonorrhoea in the throat is mostly symptom-free.

With gonorrhoea in the rectum there are often no symptoms but there might be discomfort and discharge.

Gonorrhoea is spread during vaginal, oral or anal sex. It can also be spread by sharing sex toys without washing them or when a new condom is not used for each person.

It may be possible to spread gonorrhoea on fingers when you touch an infected part of the body, then touch other parts of your or someone else’s body.

Using a condom (external or internal condom) cuts the risk, but doesn’t eliminate it entirely.

Gonorrhoea can be passed on via oral sex, so using flavoured condoms or dental dams can help reduce the risk.

Other types of contraception, such as the contraceptive pill, offer no protection against gonorrhoea or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Gonorrhoea can also be passed from a mother to her baby during childbirth, which can cause conjunctivitis in the baby’s eyes. Antibiotics can be taken to treat gonorrhoea during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

It’s possible for an adult to get conjunctivitis as a result of their eye coming into contact with gonorrhoea bacteria, but this is rare.

Most people get tested and treated for infections such as gonorrhoea at a sexual health clinic or at an appointment with a dermatovenerologist, urologist, gynecologist. It’s free and confidential.

The more people you have sex with (especially unprotected sex), the bigger the chance of getting STIs such as gonorrhoea. It’s possible to have them without knowing, so regular check-ups are a good idea – especially if you’re starting a new relationship or you want to stop using condoms with your partner.

If chlamydia is not treated it can sometimes causes serious problems, including pain, inflammation and infertility in men and women. It can also lead to complications in pregnancy.

Most people get tested and treated for infections such as gonorrhoea at a sexual health (GUM) clinic. It’s free and confidential: no-one else, including your GP, will be told about your visit. Some GP surgeries also test for and treat these infections.

The more people you have sex with (especially unprotected sex), the bigger the chance of getting STIs such as gonorrhoea. It’s possible to have them without knowing, so regular check-ups are a good idea – especially if you’re starting a new relationship or you want to stop using condoms with your partner.

If you live with HIV

If diagnosed early, gonorrhea is easily treatable. HIV infection doesn’t affect the treatment regimen.

When you get gonorrhoea, it may put your HIV-negative partners at a higher probability of getting HIV from you. This is because STIs often manifest with ulcers, sores, inflammation or broken skin, and they may allow HIV to leave your body and expose your partner more easily. Additionally, people living with HIV having an STI have more HIV in their semen (cum), causing HIV transmission more likely.

If your viral load stays undetectable, you don’t have to worry – there is no risk of sexually transmitting HIV to HIV-negative partners, even if you have STI.

Certain medications for HIV can have unwanted interactions with drugs used for gonorrhoea treatment. So, your doctor should be aware of your HIV status and choose the proper treatment. You can verify HIV and non-HIV drug interactions at www.hiv-druginteractions.org/checker.

If you don’t live with HIV

If you have gonorrhoea, you are more likely to get HIV than someone STI-free. This is because the same types of behaviour and conditions that may put you at risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection STI increase the risk of getting HIV. The presence of STI manifestations such as ulcers, sores, inflammation or broken skin caused by STI may allow HIV to enter your body more easily.