What is gonorrhea?

The bacteria can be in the urethra, in the vagina (on the cervix), in the rectum or in the mouth/throat (on and in the tonsils).

How is gonorrhea transmitted?

Gonorrhea is found in genital secretions, such as presperm, sperm and vaginal secretions, and become infected when these fluids come into contact with a mucous membrane. Mucous membranes exist e.g. in the urethra, in the vagina and in the rectum.

Gonorrhea is therefore transmitted through intercourse in the vagina, rectum and through oral sex. Gonorrhea is not transmitted by kissing. Children can be infected during birth and get a severe eye infection.

Condom protects against infection.

It typically takes 2-8 days from being infected until the first symptom appears, but sometimes it takes up to 2-3 weeks.

What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?

In many cases, gonorrhea causes no symptoms – or very mild symptoms. The symptoms of gonorrhea are similar to the symptoms of chlamydia.

Bakterien kan sidde i urinrøret, i skeden (på livmoderhalsen), i endetarmen eller i munden/svælget (på og i mandlerne).

If you have a vagina: Approximately 50% will not experience any symptoms, but the symptoms can be:

• Heavy yellowish discharge from the vagina or urethra
• Burning when urinating ("pee shards of glass")
• spottings from the vagina

If you have a penis: Around 10% get no symptoms at all, but the symptoms can be:

• Heavy yellowish discharge from urethra
• Burning when urinating ("pee shards of glass")
• Swelling and pain in the scrotum (inflammation of the epididymis)

All: Symptoms in the anus and in the throat rarely cause symptoms

• Slight sore throat after about a week
• Burning, itching or bleeding
• Eye inflammation (pus and sensitivity to light)

How is gonorrhea tested and treated?

The test for gonorrhea consists of a urine test or an inoculation (cotton swab) - in both sexes, samples are taken from the urethra and from the rectum during anal sex and from the pharynx (mouth) during oral sex. Women also get a swab taken from the cervix. Possibly from the vagina, if it is a test that the woman herself performs, following instructions from health personnel.

Vaccination from the rectum and pharynx must be offered especially to men who have sex with men. The test can be done one week after suspected infection.

If you are infected with gonorrhea, the Danish Health Authority recommends that you also be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, HIV, syphilis and possibly hepatitis B.

The treatment for gonorrhea is a course of antibiotics and the infection is easy to cure. Due to increasing problems with treatment-resistant gonorrhea worldwide, resistance determination of gonorrhea findings must be carried out in connection with treatment.

If the symptoms do not disappear with treatment, it is relevant to test for mycoplasma genitalium.

Possible consequences of gonorrhea

If you become infected with gonorrhea and are not treated, it can have serious consequences:

If you have a vagina:

• Abdominal inflammation that can lead to involuntary infertility, greater risk of ectopic pregnancy and chronic abdominal pain

If you have a penis:

• Inflammation of the epididymis

All:

• Loss of vision (in case of infection in the eye)
• Reactive arthritis