Gonorrhoea: symptoms, causes & treatment in Nigeria
Also known as gono, the drip.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection that can affect the genitals, rectum and throat. Many women and some men have no symptoms, so it can spread and cause infertility silently. It is curable, but rising drug resistance makes proper testing and prescribed treatment important.
Symptoms
Discharge from the penis or vagina
Burning when urinating
Pelvic or lower abdominal pain
Pain or swelling in the testicles
Bleeding between periods
Often no symptoms at all
Causes & risk factors
Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected partner
Multiple sexual partners without condom use
An untreated infected partner (reinfection)
Treatment & self-care
Treatment is an antibiotic regimen prescribed after testing — self-medication with street antibiotics fuels resistance and often fails. Sexual partners must be treated at the same time, and you should avoid sex until treatment is complete. Condoms prevent reinfection.
See a doctor urgently if
Any unusual genital discharge or burning urination
Lower abdominal pain with fever in a woman
Painful, swollen testicle
A partner has been diagnosed with an STI
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Gonorrhoea?
Early signs often include discharge from the penis or vagina, burning when urinating, pelvic or lower abdominal pain. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Gonorrhoea be treated?
Treatment is an antibiotic regimen prescribed after testing — self-medication with street antibiotics fuels resistance and often fails. Sexual partners must be treated at the same time, and you should avoid sex until treatment is complete. Condoms prevent reinfection.
When should I see a doctor about Gonorrhoea?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: any unusual genital discharge or burning urination; lower abdominal pain with fever in a woman; painful, swollen testicle; a partner has been diagnosed with an sti.