Gonorrhoea
What is gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea is also known as the clap. It's an STI which is caused by a bacteria which lives in warm, moist areas of the body. That means that the gonorrhoea infection likes nothing better than attacking the vagina, cervix, urethra, rectum and the throat. Gonorrhoea isn't very common these days (although it is on the increase in Fife as well as elsewhere) and the infection can easily be treated with a course of antibiotics.
What are the symptoms?
Gonorrhoea, like many other STIs, is pretty tricky to detect in women because there aren't many external symptoms. (Most men do develop obvious symptoms). The only way for a woman to know for sure is to have regular sexual health check ups. However, you can look out for these symptoms.
Women:
- Thin, watery, yellow or green discharge from the vagina.
- Pain when peeing.
- A sore throat.
Men:
- White or yellow discharge from the tip of the penis.
- Pain when peeing.
- Itching or discharge from the anus.
- A sore throat.
How do you catch it?
You can catch gonorrhoea by-Having unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex with an infected partner.
How can I protect myself?
Condoms will give you pretty good protection from gonorrhoea.
Because the symptoms are difficult to notice, many people carrying the bacteria probably don't even know they have it. Don't take a gamble with your health, use a condom and you can be pretty sure you won't catch gonorrhoea.