Gonorrhoea

gonorrhoea; sexually; transmitted; disease; young; people; youth; sexually transmitteddiseases; STD; sexually transmitted infections; infections; gonorrhea;

Contents

• Signs
• More about gonorrhoea
• Prevention
• Resources in South Australia

Gonorrhoea has been around for thousands of years. Gonorrhoea is a serious infection that can passed on during vaginal sex, anal sex or oral sex. It's also called the clap. A woman can also pass gonorrhoea on to her baby at birth.

If you suspect you have a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), don't give it to others, get tested and treated quickly.

Signs

Men
The most common sign for men that gonorrhoea has got a hold is a yellow discharge from the penis. A male could also get a burning feeling when passing urine. Some men might not have any signs.

Women
In women there usually are no signs but some women could have a vaginal discharge, irregular periods or lower belly pain.

Gonorrhoea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility in women. It can also (rarely) lead to infertility in men. PID is an infection in a woman's reproductive organs (including the uterus [or womb]). Signs of PID include pain in the lower belly, pain during sexual intercourse, fever, a vaginal discharge and changes to periods.

More about gonorrhoea

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Services 'Gonorrhoea'
http://www.stdservices.on.net/publications/pdf/Gonorrhoea.pdf  

Department of Health SA, 'Gonorrhoea'
http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/ygw/gonorrhoea-pehs-sahealth-2009.pdf

Prevention

• It's best to practice safer sex. Use a condom when having sex, especially if you are having sex with a new partner. You could limit your sexual activities to those described in our safer sex topic like hugging, kissing and massaging.
• Get tested straight away if you think you have gonorrhoea, don't have sex until you know you're clear and don't pass it on. Remember you might not have any symptoms and the person who passed it in to you also might not have signs of gonorrhoea, so it's important to be checked for STDs after any unprotected sex.
• Many people in Australia have caught gonorrhoea while travelling overseas, so always be prepared for safer sex. Carry spare condoms with you if needs be!

Important Note:
Tracing is the major way to stop the spread of this disease in South Australia and it is required by the South Australian Department of Health. Remember a person may not have symptoms and therefore won't know that he or she is still passing on the disease. For this reason, the partners are offered a check-up and treatment. Confidentiality is of high priority to the STD control branch and the notification process does not mean your name will be passed on to previous partners.

Resources in South Australia

• The Second Story Youth Health Service (TSS)
  - Central: 57 Hyde St, Adelaide
  - South: 50a Beach Rd, Christies Beach
  - North: 6 Gillingham Rd, Elizabeth
  - West: 51 Bower St, Woodville
• Youth Health line on 1300 13 17 19
  
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases Service - Clinic 275
  (08) 8222 5075 Country callers 1800 806 490
  http://www.stdservices.on.net
• ShineSA - Sexual Health information, networking and education South Australia
  Sexual Healthline: Monday to Friday 9am to 1 pm
  1300 883 793 Country callers1800 188 171.
  http://www.shinesa.org.au
• Your doctor.

The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Youth Healthline on 1300 13 17 19 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).