"You might not have any of the symptoms of gonorrhoea but you might still be infected - get yourself 'checked out'."
In brief...
This is a bacterial infection of both sexes which is usually caught during unprotected sex. You can be infected and have no symptoms. If you have symptoms, you might have pain on urination, 'peeing'. Girls and women usually get a yellow/green, but it can be clear, discharge from their vagina. Boys and men get a yellow/green, but it can be clear, discharge from their penis. It is very easy for us to detect and treat completely gonorrhoea.
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What is gonorrhoea and how did I get it?
Gonorrhoea is an infection that is caused by a bacterium, germ, called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Gonorrhoea is caught during sex, or through sexual contact, with a partner who is infected with the bacterium.
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How can I avoid it?
Don't have unprotected sex, especially if you think your partner has an infection. Learn to use safer sex.
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What are the symptoms?
You might not have any symptoms at all, especially if you are female. Boys and men are more likely to have symptoms than are girls and women.
Boys and men might get:
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A yellow, white or green discharge from the penis
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Pain on peeing
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Irritation and, or, discharge from the anus
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Painful testicles
Girls and women might get:
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A change in vaginal secretions, discharge. It might increase in amount and go yellow or greenish. This usually comes from the cervix
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Pain or a burning sensation when peeing
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Irritation and, or, discharge from the anus
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Pain in the pelvis, lower tummy, caused by Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
"It is easy for us to test for and treat gonorrhoea."
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Why should I get it checked out?
Girls and women. If you don't get gonorrhoea checked out and treated it can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes, causing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). This can cause fever, pain or infertility. After infection, it can increase the chance of you having an ectopic pregnancy, if you become pregnant. You can also pass it on to your sexual partner(s). If you are infected when you are giving birth, you can give it to your baby.
Boys and men. If you don't get gonorrhoea checked out and treated you might get a more serious inflammation in your sperm tubes called epididymitis. You can also pass it on to your sexual partner(s).
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What should I do before coming to shac?
If you are worried you might have gonorrhoea it would be best not to have sex until you have been checked out and given the 'all clear'.
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What tests can you offer me at shac?
At the moment we need to find the germ to show that you are infected with gonorrhoea. We can easily check whether you have gonorrhoea by gently taking a swab using a cotton-wool tip or soft foam from just inside the urethra, water passage where your urine comes out or, in girls and women, from the cervix. If you agree, we might take a swab from your throat and anus, if you have had oral or anal sex.
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What treatment can you offer me at shac?
The treatment for gonorrhoea is simple. You just need to take an antibiotic either as a pill or in liquid form.
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What about my partner(s)?
It is important that your sexual partner(s) are also tested and given the best treatment, to prevent you being re-infected, to stop them passing it on to other sexual partner(s) or having problems themselves.
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What should I do after coming to shac?
It is important that you return to the clinic to have another test so that we can make sure the infection has been cured. Don't have sex until you have been given the 'all clear'. Remember, your partner might be infectious with gonorrhoea but have no symptoms.
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