Gonorrhea

What it is. Gonorrhea is a common STI caused by a bacteria. Like chlamydia, it can infect the genitals, the back passage (rectum), or the throat, and it spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

How you'd know. Many people have no symptoms, especially with throat or rectal infection. When symptoms happen they can include thick or coloured discharge, burning when you pee, testicle pain, or rectal pain and discharge. Because it is often silent, testing is the only way to be sure.

How it's tested. The main test is a urine sample or a self-collected swab. If you have had anal or oral sex, throat and rectal swabs can be added. Sometimes the clinic also takes a culture (a swab grown in the lab) to check which antibiotics will work — this matters because gonorrhea is becoming harder to treat.

Is it curable? Yes, gonorrhea is curable — but the germ is becoming resistant to more and more antibiotics, so it is treated with a reliable injection and then checked again to make sure it is truly gone.

What if it's not treated? Untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility, and rarely it can spread through the blood to the joints and skin (this is called disseminated infection) and make you quite unwell.

What about partners? Recent partners should be tested and treated, even if they feel fine. Wait 7 days after treatment before having sex again, and until your partners are treated. Because reinfection is common, plan on a repeat test in 3 to 6 months.