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What Is Superdrug Online Doctor?
We're a service that helps you order treatments online from UK-registered doctors with free, discreet, to-your-door deliveries.
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How Do You Catch Gonorrhoea?
How can Gonorrhoea spread, and how can you avoid it?
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection which is transmitted during sex. Find out how you can catch it and what you can do to avoid getting infected.
Contents
How do you get gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a very common sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by bacteria, which are passed on during sex.
You can get infected with these bacteria during the following activities:
- vaginal sex
- anal sex
- oral sex
- sharing sex toys
- genital contact with an infected partner
The best way to protect yourself is to use a condom every time you have sex and to avoid unprotected sex until both you and your partner have tested negative for STIs.
Gonorrhea often doesn't cause any symptoms, so you could have it and be unaware of the infection.
Can you get gonorrhea again after treatment?
Gonorrhea treatment consists of antibiotics. The recommended treatment is an injection but it is also possible to take tablets for gonorrhea. If you choose to take tablets, you need to get tested two weeks after the treatment to confirm that the antibiotics have cleared the infection. If you order your treatment online from Superdrug, we will send you a home test kit two weeks after you have taken your tablets.
In the vast majority of cases, gonorrhea treatment is successful. The infection does not come back unless you are infected again. It is very important that your partner gets tested and treated as well to make sure you don’t pass the infection back and forth. You can get gonorrhea multiple times and you don’t get immune to the bacteria.
It is generally important that you let recent partners know if you are diagnosed with an STI so that they can get treated. After your treatment, you need to wait seven days before you have unprotected sex again - this is how long it can take for the treatment to kill all the bacteria.
Your GUM clinic can help you contact your partners on your behalf without disclosing your name. If you order online from Superdrug Online Doctor we are also happy to help you notify your partners.
Can you catch gonorrhea without having sex?
Gonorrhea is almost always transmitted during sex and it is highly unlikely that you catch it without having sex. However, you can catch it without penetration, for example if your genitals touch those of an infected partner.
You can also catch it when you share sex toys without cleaning them properly or covering them with a condom.
It is possible for babies to get infected during birth if the mother carries gonorrhea bacteria. In order to prevent this, you should get tested if you want to try for a baby or are pregnant.
Can you get infected even if you use a condom?
It is extremely unlikely that you will contract gonorrhea if you use a condom every time you have sex. Gonorrhea is transmitted via your sexual fluids and condoms provide an effective barrier.
There is a risk that you could catch an STI because of a broken condom.
Can you catch gonorrhea from kissing?
You can’t catch gonorrhea from kissing, hugging or sharing a drink with someone. However, you can get it from oral sex.Is oral sex safe?
You can catch a range of STIs from unprotected oral sex, including gonorrhea. You should always use a condom during oral sex if your partner has not recently tested negative for sexually transmitted diseases.
If your receive oral sex from someone who has gonorrhea of the throat, there is a small chance that you could catch it. If you perform oral sex on someone who has gonorrhea, you can get an infection in your throat, which may not necessarily cause gonorrhea symptoms.
If you could have contracted gonorrhea of the throat you should get tested for oral gonorrhea. You can visit your local GUM clinic or order a swab test kit online.
Can you get gonorrhea from anal sex?
You can catch gonorrhea during anal sex and the bacteria can cause an infection in your anus. As with any other STI, it is important that you get tested if you have had unprotected sex. You can visit your local clinic or order a rectal swab test online.Can you catch gonorrhea from a toilet seat?
You can’t get gonorrhea or indeed any other sexually transmitted disease from a toilet seat. Gonorrhea bacteria do not survive outside the human body and you won't get infected from sitting on a toilet, even if someone who has gonorrhea has used it before.
There is also no risk of catching gonorrhea from swimming in a swimming pool or using a jacuzzi.
How you can protect yourself:
Use a condom!
You should only have unprotected sex once both you and your partner have tested negative for STIs.
Get tested!
If you have had unprotected sex with a partner who has not recently tested negative, you should get tested. It is generally recommended that sexually active people get checked on a regular basis, at least every six months.
Get treated!
If you test positive for gonorrhea, make sure you get treated without delay. This way you avoid potential complications and protect your partner from catching it.