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Conditions

Gonorrhoea

A paraurethral abscess due to Gonorrhoea (Photo courtesy of CDC)

Gonorrhoea (otherwise known as ‘the clap’) is the second most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK, and commonly affects young men aged 20-24 years and women aged 16-19. The bacterium that causes the infection is found mainly in the semen and vaginal fluids of infected men and women, so it’s easily transmitted through unprotected sexual contact. Some of the symptoms – discharge from the penis or vagina, and a burning sensation when urinating – are particularly unpleasant. Furthermore, untreated gonorrhoea can cause serious health problems in later life, so it’s best to seek treatment from your GP or GUM clinic. Historically, sailors who displayed symptoms of gonorrhoea were subjected to an injection of mercury through the tip of the penis (which is enough to bring floods of tears to any man’s eyes!) Thankfully, however, treatment has moved on and now consists of a single dose of antibiotics, which is administered either by pill or injection (but not into the penis).

A free online Gonorrhoea postal test for people aged under-25 is available in some areas. Go to www.freetest.me. for more details.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

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if you have had sex on your period with no condom can you get pregnant and what are the symptons of stis??





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I had unprodtected sex for no more than twenty seconds for the first time and it hurts when i urinate and sort of smells funny , is this gonorrhoea ? im so worried..





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I am 18 and have been with my boyfriend for a year, i have been taking the pill for nearly 4 months and since then when i pass urine it smells really bad i have even had complaints from family members. I find it really embarrassing going to toilet in public as i am in college, it would be such a relief to find out what the problem is.





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Hi is it possible to have a false positive naat test for gonorrhea?





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I was just wondering if the treatment for gonnorrhoea treating all areas, so for example if I had been tested for it in the vagina and I am given treatment, if I also had rectal gonnorrhoea would the treatment cure that too?





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Hi can you get tested for things like Gonorrhoea whilst on your period? because im really worried and need to get tested as soon as possible





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Hi i'm 26 and have been with my boyfriend for 3 years. When we were 6 months into our relationship I found out I had chlamydia and told my boyfriend thinking it was brought to the relatonship by one of our previous sexual partners, he says he went to the sexual healh clinic to get checked out but came back with a negative result. Is it possible for one sexual partner not to catch a sti considering it was 6 months later. Also, I am now paranoid all of the time which doesn't help that I can now smell myself down bellow toward the end of the day, could this smell be something other than an sti or do I need to start questionning my relationship?





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hi, i was on my period for 4 weeks and it started to get a smell so i went to my GP and she gave me sum medication and i took it for 2days then the smell whent away i didnt finish the pack but now my discharge has gone more thicker. do you know what is going on down their





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if you didnt finish the package then most likely to have not cleared whatever was there... when your given medication your suppose to take it as it says even if you feel fine in yourself.. its for you own health

Hi,well i have been in a relationship for quite a bit now, im 17 but have just found out i have clomidea,but im worried about the treatment as i have never been able to take tablet at any size please help?





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Hi I'm only 14 and haven't had sex yet obviously and my vagina seems to be sore it doesn't hurt when I pee Thnks





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus. It used to be known as 'the clap'. Read More »

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