Many people mistake early gonorrhoea symptoms for a simple urinary tract infection (UTI). Both can cause burning when you urinate, pelvic discomfort, and increased urgency to go to the bathroom. But while UTIs are caused by bacteria in the urinary tract, gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection that can spread and cause serious complications if left untreated.
If your UTI-like symptoms don’t go away quickly with treatment, or if you’ve recently had new or unprotected sexual partners, it may be time to test for gonorrhoea — just to be safe.
Here’s what you NEED to know:
What is Gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in both men and women (Raccagni et al., 2023). It spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex and is caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium (World Health Organization, 2024).
The bacteria that causes gonorrhoea has developed resistance to many antibiotics (Raccagni et al., 2023), making early testing and treatment crucial.
How Do You Get Gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea spreads through sexual contact involving the penis, vagina, mouth, or rectum of an infected person (World Health Organization, 2024).
How To Protect Yourself
While no method offers full protection, you can reduce your risk by:
• Using condoms consistently and correctly
• Avoiding sex with partners who show STI symptoms
• Getting tested regularly, especially if you have new or multiple partners
What Are the Symptoms of Gonorrhoea?
Many people with gonorrhoea do not notice any symptoms — which is why regular testing is so important if you’ve had unprotected sex or think you may have been exposed.
When symptoms do appear, they usually develop about two weeks after infection, though in some cases they may take several months to show.
Symptoms in Women
If you have a vagina, gonorrhoea may cause (National Health Service [NHS], 2024):
• Yellow or green vaginal discharge
• A burning sensation when urinating
• Pain or discomfort in your lower abdomen
• Spotting or bleeding between periods (less common)
Symptoms in Men
If you have a penis, gonorrhoea may cause (National Health Service [NHS], 2024):
• A burning sensation when urinating
• Discharge from the penis
• Pain or tenderness in the testicles
Gonorrhoea in Other Areas
Gonorrhoea can also infect other parts of the body that come into contact with infected fluids (National Health Service [NHS], 2024):
• Anus — pain, itching or discharge
• Throat — soreness or irritation
• Eyes — redness, discomfort and discharge
Why Testing Matters
• Many women with gonorrhoea have no symptoms — but untreated infections can cause serious complications. These include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and pregnancy complications.
• Gonorrhoea can also be passed to newborns during delivery, causing eye infections that may lead to blindness if untreated.
• Regular testing helps catch infections early, protecting your health and that of your partners.
Testing With Epicentre
At Epicentre, testing is simple, private, and accessible.
You have two options:
1️⃣ Walk-In Testing At Our Lab
Visit one of our branches — no doctor referral needed. Simply walk in or book online. Our team will take care of everything discreetly and professionally.
2️⃣ Test At Home With STI Test In A Box
Prefer privacy? Order our STI Test In A Box.
– Collect your sample at home
– Use the prepaid shipping label to send it to our certified lab
– Receive your results confidentially online
Booking is easy — just visit Epicentre to choose the option that works for you.
Meet The Author
Loryn Smith is a compassionate Research Assistant at Epicentre Health Research with a Master’s degree in Psychology focused on research methodology and community health.
She has a passion for supporting disadvantaged populations and addressing social inequalities. Loryn combines her research expertise with hands-on fieldwork coordination to help improve health outcomes and empower communities.
References
National Health Service (NHS). (2024, December 16). Gonorrhoea. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gonorrhoea/
Raccagni, A. R., Ranzenigo, M., Bruzzesi, E., Maci, C., Castagna, A., & Nozza, S. (2023). Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial resistance: The future of antibiotic therapy. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(24), 7767. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12247767mdpi.com+1researchgate.net+1
World Health Organization. (2024, July 4). Gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/gonorrhoea-(neisseria-gonorrhoeae-infection)
