Gonorrhea? Get rid of it!
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. Gonorrhea infects the cervix, uterus, and the fallopian tubes in a woman. It infects the urethra in both women and men. Gonorrhea can also infect the mucous membrane of the mouth, throat, eyes, and rectum. This can be a little confusing to understand, but this is easy…if you have had unprotected sex, you should get tested for gonorrhea!

Should I get tested for gonorrhea?
Anyone who is having anal, oral, or vaginal sex should be getting tested. Click here for Sexual Wellness Center hours.

Will I have symptoms of gonorrhea if I have it?
When people have gonorrhea, they may have these symptoms. But even if you don’t have symptoms and you are having unprotected sex (sex without a condom) then you should get tested.

• Pain or burning when peeing
• More than usual vaginal discharge (usually with a bad odor)
• Bleeding between your periods
• Irritation, itching, or discharge from the anus
• Pain in the abdomen or pelvic area (sometimes with nausea too)

How do people get gonorrhea in the first place?
Gonorrhea is spread when someone by having oral, anal, or vaginal sex with an infected person. Someone with gonorrhea does not have to ejaculate (cum) to give it to another person. Gonorrhea can also be spread from mother to baby during childbirth.

Okay, I’ll get tested… but what do they do?
When you come into the Sexual Wellness Center, you will be asked to urinate (pee) in a cup, which is one step to find out if you have gonorrhea. A nurse will also take a swab sample from your vagina, penis, throat, or anus. The results are available in about five days.

Does gonorrhea affect my pregnancy and my baby?
If you are pregnant and you have gonorrhea, you may give the infection to your baby during childbirth. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or life-threatening blood infection in your baby. If you are pregnant, you must get tested for gonorrhea. Pregnant women who have gonorrhea will get medicine right away and it will reduce the chances of a bad birth outcome.