Symptomless majority of the time, when they do manifest, the symptoms include the following.

In men:

• Pain during urination
• Discharge (pus) from the penis
• Inflammation in testicle

In women:

• Pain during urination
• Pain in pelvic region
• More than usual discharge from vagina
• Bleeding in-between period cycles
• Bleeding after sexual intercourse

Caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the most common cause of gonorrhoea is sexual transmission from one person to another.

Risk factors include:

• Women below 25 years being sexually active
• Homosexual contact between men
• Having many partners for sex
• History of gonorrhoea or other sexually transmitted disease

• Gonorrhoea can affect the uterus in women leading to infertility.
• Gonorrhoea can cause inflammation in the testicles leading to infertility among men.
• Patients with gonorrhoea are more susceptible to infection by HIV.
• Babies born to mothers with gonorrhoea could be blind and have scalp infection.
• Gonorrhoea can also spread to other parts causing fever, rashes, etc.

• Urine test to check for the bacteria in urine sample
• Swab to get sample cells of the affected part – throat, vagina, etc. The samples are then analysed in the laboratory to confirm gonorrhoea.

Gonorrhoea in adults and babies (who have got it from their mothers) can be treated with antibiotics. It is essential that the person’s partner also be treated with antibiotics even if they are asymptomatic.

• Having only one partner for sex
• Using condom during sex
• Undergoing regular screening when there is more than one sex partner