Gonorrhea

In cooperation with Gilead Sciences

What causes gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, also called gonococci. The bacterium is found in the urethra and vagina, and sometimes in the rectum and throat.

How is gonorrhea transmitted?

Gonorrhea can be transmitted during unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse, during unprotected oral sex. Gonorrhea can also be transmitted during petting and rimming sometimes (if you lick someone’s rectal opening). In rare cases, the infection can also be transmitted to the eye. During childbirth, a woman can transmit the infection to her child, who can then suffer from severe eye inflammation.

How do you protect yourself against gonorrhea?

Using a condom correctly, meaning that it is on throughout the intercourse and does not break or slip off, greatly reduces the risk of infection.

Symptoms of gonorrhea

The incubation period for gonorrhea is short, from a few days to a few weeks. You may be symptom-free. Any symptoms usually appear as inflammation of the urethra, cervix, rectum, or throat. The first symptom for men is usually a burning sensation when urinating. Most often, there is also a discharge from the urethra that can appear in the mouth of the urethra or in the underwear. At first, this discharge is scanty, slimy, and thin, but quickly becomes thick, sticky, yellow-white, and profuse. For women, the symptoms can be reminiscent of a common urinary tract infection, i.e. it stings or itches when you urinate or you feel like you often need to urinate. There may also be a foul-smelling discharge from the vagina. If the infection is in the rectum, symptoms in both men and women can range from mild itching to severe pain. Infection in the throat can be completely symptom-free for both sexes, but can also resemble strep throat.

How are examination and testing done?

Gonorrhea is diagnosed by taking a sample from the urethra, (for women from the cervix as well) from the throat and rectum. In some clinics, the sample can be assessed microscopically directly at the time of sampling. A culture sample for the presence of gonococci is always sent to a laboratory for resistance determination. Test results are normally received after approximately a week. The examination is free of charge.

Where can you get tested?

You can be tested at all health care centers, GP surgeries, youth clinics, skin and vein clinics, sex and intercourse clinics, and specialist clinics for sexually transmitted infections.

How to treat gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is usually easily treated with antibiotics. The treatment is free of charge.

What can happen if you do not get treatment?

Untreated gonorrhea for women can cause inflammation in the fallopian tubes, which can also lead to sterility or ectopic pregnancy in the event of a future pregnancy. For men, it can cause inflammation in the epididymis which can lead to sterility. The infection can also cause eye infections, joint problems, skin rashes, and in the worst case blood poisoning.

How common is the disease?

Gonorrhea was a common sexually transmitted disease in Sweden until the 1980s, when it declined. It has started to increase again. The majority of the reported gonorrhea cases has been infected in Sweden. The domestic spread of infection occurs mainly in metropolitan areas. The disease is common in the rest of the world, both in Eastern and Western Europe, and many Swedes are infected every year in Southeast Asia. The bacteria is often resistant to many drugs if you are abroad and even in Sweden, a spread of resistant gonorrhea has been detected.

Infection tracking requirements according to the Infection Protection Act

According to the Swedish Infection Protection Act, gonorrhea is classified as a disease of general danger. This means that if you suspect that you have been infected, you are obliged to see a doctor to do the examinations and take the necessary samples. All examinations, care, and treatment are free of charge for you as a patient. Gonorrhea is a disease subject to infection tracing, which means that you must provide information about the person or persons the infection may have come from and the person or persons to whom it may have been passed on to. You can choose to contact your partners yourself or have a doctor or counselor do it. In that case, you are always anonymous to your partners through the confidentiality protection in the Infection Protection Act. Occurred cases are reported anonymously to the infectious disease doctor in the county council and to the Public Health Authority.