Gonorrhoea Symptoms & Testing
What is Gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Gonorrhoea is a very common infectious disease. In 2016, over 800,000 new cases were reported in the United States (US).
In Singapore, gonorrhoea infections are most common among those between the ages of 20 and 40 with males accounting for more than 80% of cases (DSC, 2016).
Gonorrhoea is a very common infectious disease. In 2016, over 800,000 new cases were reported in the United States (US).
In Singapore, gonorrhoea infections are most common among those between the ages of 20 and 40 with males accounting for more than 80% of cases (DSC, 2016).
How do we contract Gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea can be spread during vaginal,
anal, or oral sex.
If you have had gonorrhoea and were treated, you can still get infected again through unprotected sex with someone with gonorrhoea.
Gonorrhea can also be spread perinatally from mother to baby during childbirth.
If you have had gonorrhoea and were treated, you can still get infected again through unprotected sex with someone with gonorrhoea.
Gonorrhea can also be spread perinatally from mother to baby during childbirth.
How can we tell that we may have Gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea may have no symptoms and the
infection can linger in the body for weeks or months before being discovered.
For those who develop symptoms, these typically appear about 1– 14 days after sex.
Common symptoms of gonorrhoea:
• Women may complain of vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, pain during sex. These symptoms are often very mild and may be mistaken for urinary tract infection or bacterial vaginosis
• Men may complain of white, yellow or green discharge from the penis, burning sensation when urinating, tingling or testicular pain and swelling
• Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements
• Throat infection commonly has no symptoms or presents as a sore throat
For those who develop symptoms, these typically appear about 1– 14 days after sex.
Common symptoms of gonorrhoea:
• Women may complain of vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, pain during sex. These symptoms are often very mild and may be mistaken for urinary tract infection or bacterial vaginosis
• Men may complain of white, yellow or green discharge from the penis, burning sensation when urinating, tingling or testicular pain and swelling
• Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements
• Throat infection commonly has no symptoms or presents as a sore throat
Testing for Gonorrhoea
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT/NAT) are the most sensitive tests and suitable for self-collected vaginal swabs or urine-based screening. Tests may be done on:
• A urine sample
• A swab of the cervix, vagina, or urethra
An alternative test is a bacterial culture from a swab of the cervix, vagina, or urethra.
Cross Street Medical offers gonorrhoea screening tests. Speak to our doctors today about what you may need. Female doctors are available by appointment. We ensure patient privacy and confidentiality for all discussions, tests and treatments.
• A urine sample
• A swab of the cervix, vagina, or urethra
An alternative test is a bacterial culture from a swab of the cervix, vagina, or urethra.
Cross Street Medical offers gonorrhoea screening tests. Speak to our doctors today about what you may need. Female doctors are available by appointment. We ensure patient privacy and confidentiality for all discussions, tests and treatments.
What does Gonorrhoea do to our bodies?
In men, gonorrhoea causes inflammation of the urethra (urethritis), epididymis (epididymitis) and prostate gland.
A rare complication is infertility. Gonorrhoea may also increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
In women, gonorrhoea causes pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Complications of PID are infertility, ectopic pregnancy and long-term pelvic/abdominal pain.
If gonnorrhoea is left untreated, it can spread into the blood to become disseminated gonoccocal infection (DGI). DGI leads to skin pustules or petechia, septic arthritis, meningitis, or endocarditis. This may occur in women and men, and can be life-threatening.
Untreated gonorrhoea may also increase a person’s risk of HIV infection.
A rare complication is infertility. Gonorrhoea may also increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
In women, gonorrhoea causes pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Complications of PID are infertility, ectopic pregnancy and long-term pelvic/abdominal pain.
If gonnorrhoea is left untreated, it can spread into the blood to become disseminated gonoccocal infection (DGI). DGI leads to skin pustules or petechia, septic arthritis, meningitis, or endocarditis. This may occur in women and men, and can be life-threatening.
Untreated gonorrhoea may also increase a person’s risk of HIV infection.
What is the treatment for Gonorrhoea?
Since 2015, the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend treatment with two antibiotics (to prevent antibiotic resistance).
No follow-up testing for gonorrhoea is recommended.
For positive cases, other sexually transmitted diseases/infections such as chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV should be tested.
Furthermore, all sexual partners (within 60 days of the onset of symptoms) should be screened for gonorrhoea and treated.
Cross Street Medical offers all relevant treatments for gonorrhoea. Speak to our doctors today about what you may need. Female doctors are available by appointment. We ensure patient privacy and confidentiality for all discussions, tests and treatments.
No follow-up testing for gonorrhoea is recommended.
For positive cases, other sexually transmitted diseases/infections such as chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV should be tested.
Furthermore, all sexual partners (within 60 days of the onset of symptoms) should be screened for gonorrhoea and treated.
Cross Street Medical offers all relevant treatments for gonorrhoea. Speak to our doctors today about what you may need. Female doctors are available by appointment. We ensure patient privacy and confidentiality for all discussions, tests and treatments.
How do we prevent infection and re-infection?
- Avoiding high risk sex, including commercial sex workers, casual sex and multiple sex partners
- Using condoms, including during oral sex
- Being in a long-term monogamous relationship with a partner who has tested negative for gonorrhoea and other STDs/STIs
- If you are a sexually active man who is gay , bisexual, or who has sex with men , you should be tested for gonorrhoea and other STD/STI every year. If you are a sexually active woman with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection, you should be tested for gonorrhoea and other STD/STI every year.