Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection that affects both men and women. It is becoming more common in Perth and Australia generally. Sadly, antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea is a concern globally.
If you think you could have symptoms of gonorrhoea, if you may have been in contact with it, or if you just want reassurance from an STI check, it’s important to be tested and get timely advice on whether treatment is right for you. As sexual health and Perth STI specialists, we can be there for you.
Gonorrhoea Testing | Walk-in Sexual Health Clinic Perth
What is gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea is a curable bacterial infection that is passed from person to person by having unprotected sex with an infected partner. As is often the case with STIs, your partners usually don’t know they are infected.
There are a number of different parts of the body that can be infected. These include the genitals, the eye of the penis in men or the cervix and urethra in women as well as the anus and throat. On rare occasions, it can spread into the bloodstream and cause joint symptoms or skin lesions.
STI Testing | Walk-in Sexual Health Clinic Perth
Gonorrhoea symptoms & the potential complications of undetected or untreated infection
Not everyone with gonorrhoea will have symptoms, but common symptoms are listed below.
If men have gonorrhoea in their penis, symptoms can include:
- stinging or burning when passing urine
- discharge or pus from the eye of the penis
- redness at the eye of the penis
- swollen sore testicles
Women with an infection often have fewer symptoms than men. However, symptoms can include:
- abnormal vaginal discharge
- stinging or burning when passing urine
- painful periods
- pain during sex
- and pelvic pain
Again, not all cases of gonorrhoea cause symptoms. For example, infections in the anus and throat are often silent.
However, infections in the anus can lead to discharge, irritation, pain when opening your bowels and altered bowel habit.
Eye infections in adults are uncommon but can cause discharge, eye pain and may threaten your sight.
If not tested for and treated early, people with gonorrhoea can develop more serious complications. These include:
- pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- chronic pelvic pain
- ectopic pregnancy
- infertility
- epididymo-orchitis in men
- infections in the skin and joints
- on rare occasions, it can affect the heart or nervous system.
The risk of complications may be reduced by seeking medical attention early if you have symptoms or getting an STI check-up if you are concerned about possible episodes of risk.
STI Testing | Walk-in Sexual Health Clinic Perth
How common is gonorrhoea and who should get tested?
Gonorrhoea is becoming more common in Australia. Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea is a concern worldwide. In Australia, gonorrhoea is more commonly diagnosed in men who have sex with men, young heterosexual Aboriginals and Torres Straits Islanders, and people who have sex abroad, as well as their partners when they return. Perth has had periods of increased rates of gonorrhoea in young heterosexual people, in the last few years. The end result is that gonorrhoea rates and the numbers of people who acquire it are going up. We want to make sure you get screened using the most current guidelines for gonorrhoea testing in Perth.
If you are having unprotected sex with new or casual partners, an STI check-up is highly recommended. People at increased risk should be counselled on whether regular screening is right for them. If you have any symptoms, you should seek medical attention sooner rather than later.
STI Testing | Walk-in Sexual Health Clinic Perth
What does a test involve?
We offer easy and fast STI testing for gonorrhoea. However, the STI tests our specialists will organise depend on the types of sex you have.
We will test for gonorrhoea from all the body sites where you have sex, this may include penile/urethral, vaginal, oral and anal samples. You may be asked to collect a urine sample, take a swab from the vagina, throat and anus. If you have no symptoms, these swabs can often be done by yourself in a toilet.
For patients with symptoms, we will examine you to exclude complicated infections. Unfortunately, gonorrhoea cannot be detected on routine blood testing.
STI Testing | Walk-in Sexual Health Clinic Perth
We offer treatments and prevention advice
To effectively treat gonorrhoea, the best form of treatment is an antibiotic injection often combined with antibiotic tablets.
We are committed to your health and comfort and aim to provide on-the-spot treatment. In addition to gonorrhoea treatment, we offer follow-up advice. This includes advice on how best to tell partners, when it’s safe to have sex again and how to know if the treatment has worked. We also listen to your sexual health needs and work out a plan tailored to you for future STI and HIV prevention, sexual health vaccination and screening recommendations, as well as contraception or cervical screening test (Pap smear) needs.
Sexual Health Physicians for Perth metro area
Sexual health clinic Joondalup
It’s important to remember that you can have gonorrhoea without symptoms. The only way to find out if you have been infected is to get tested. Both testing and treatment are hassle-free when you visit the experienced and specialised STI doctors in Joondalup at Sexual Health North.
We don’t judge what you do or who you do it with; instead, we focus on giving you the best care, access to the correct treatment options, and a positive experience in the management of your sexual healthcare needs.
Check out our videos
Useful links
Send us an email
Get in Touch
3/5 Regent's Park Road,
Joondalup 6027
Opening hours
Monday : 8.30 am - 1.00 pm
Tuesday : Closed
Wednesday : 9.00 am - 7.00 pm
Thursday : Closed
Friday : 9.00 am - 7.00 pm
Saturday : 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Sunday : Closed