27 September 2026
CareFree Kits editorial · General educational information
Gonorrhoea: what to know
Gonorrhoea can affect the genitals, throat and rectum, and rates have been rising in the UK. Testing is quick and simple.
How it spreads Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection passed on through unprotected sex and by sharing sex toys.
Symptoms Around half of women and one in ten men notice nothing at all. Possible signs include thick green or yellow discharge, pain when passing urine, and tenderness in the lower stomach or testicles. Throat and rectal infections often cause no symptoms.
Antibiotic resistance Gonorrhoea has become harder to treat over time, which is one reason testing and completing treatment properly matters so much.
What to do If your result is positive, speak to a doctor, GP or sexual health clinic. Treatment is usually a single antibiotic injection, and a follow-up test is often recommended.
This article is general health information and does not replace professional medical advice. If you have symptoms, or a result you are unsure about, speak to a doctor, GP or sexual health clinic.