Gonorrhoea test & treatment

Genital gonorrhoea can be contracted by having unprotected sex with an infected person. If you are concerned that you have put yourself at risk then you should wait 14 days before taking a test as it may take this amount of time before the infection can be detected.

Gonorrhoea, caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK.

There were 82,592 cases of gonorrhoea in 2022 - up 50% on the 54,661 recorded the year before. The infection is sometimes referred to as "The Clap". 

Men and women can both be screened by using the test kits available from us and if necessary, can be supplied treatment after completing a short medical questionnaire. The treatment will be discreetly delivered the next day in a very convenient 1 hour time slot. 

 About 50% of women and 10% of men are unaware that they’re infected as they don’t experience any obvious symptoms and this means that the infection can go untreated until the disease has progressed. This can lead to serious long term health problems and infertility.

If symptoms are experienced, they usually occur about 10 days after being infected and the most common are listed below.

• Burning sensation/pain when urinating
• Inflammation of the foreskin
• An unusual discharge from the tip of the penis that may be green, yellow or white.
• Tenderness or pain in the testicles
  

• Burning sensation/pain when urinating
• Bleeding between periods and/or heavier periods
• A change in vaginal discharge which may be thick and green or yellow in colour.
• Lower abdominal discomfort
• Bleeding after sex
  

The most common STI's in the UK are Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia

They can both be treated very effectively and easily with antibiotics. However, the recommended treatment for gonorrhoea is an antibiotic injection.  This treatment  can be obtained from a sexual health clinic or your GP.

To find your nearest clinic you can click on the appropriate country specific links below :-

England

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Wales

Sex without using a condom can increase your risk of getting a STI. Also, sex toys should be washed and covered with a new condom each time they are used.

If you have been diagnosed with gonorrhoea it’s necessary to inform any sexual partners, from the last 3 months, that they may also be at risk, so that they can be screened and have treatment if required. Also, to prevent infecting or re-infecting your partner with gonorrhoea you should both avoid any sexual contact, with or without a condom, until both of you have been treated.

We recommend that you take another STI test two weeks after your gonorrhoea treatment to make sure that you have been successfully treated. Therefore we send you a free test kit 14 days after treatment to make sure that you are clear of the infection. Just email us at team@webmedpharmacy.co.uk or ring us on 0161 491 1899 and we will send you a test kit by first class Royal Mail.

Please be aware that you have to message or phone us no more than 28 days after you have received your treatment pack as after that time the test will no longer be considered to be a "Test of Cure".

Also, both men and women can get gonorrhoea in the rectum, throat, or eyes by having unprotected anal or oral sex with someone who is already infected. Furthermore, conjunctivitis may occur if infected vaginal fluid or semen comes into contact with the eyes. Usually no symptoms are experienced if the throat is infected but infection of the rectum may cause bleeding, pain, discharge or discomfort. We don't offer treatment for gonorrhoea in the throat or eyes.

If you suspect that you may have a throat or rectal infection you can buy one of our throat or/and rectal swabs to send to The Doctors Lab, TDL, for testing.

If you think you may have genital gonorrhoea you can buy a test kit now online, using our fast, discreet, confidential service, to be used in the comfort of your own home.

You only have to provide a urine sample for men or a simple vaginal swab for women; it’s quick, easy and effective whist avoiding any potential embarrassment.

The Test kits are posted in discreet plain unmarked packaging with no indication of their contents.

If you order an STI kit from us at WebMed Pharmacy by 4pm Monday to Friday, you will receive it the next working day delivered by DPD*, for all mainland UK except the Scottish Highlands. There is no additional cost for postage unless you wish it to be delivered on a Saturday or Sunday.

The kits are posted in discreet plain unmarked packaging with no indication of their contents. You will then send your sample, in the pre-paid envelope; to The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) in London**. They are the largest independent providers of clinical laboratory diagnostic services in the UK. Once the lab has received your sample, your results will be available 2-3 days later. We will contact you by your chosen method, email or SMS to let you know that there is a message in your “in box” via your secure login at WebMed Pharmacy to get the results.

If your test is positive for gonorrhoea we will ask that you complete a simple medical questionnaire that our Doctor can assess for your suitability and, if approved, be prescribed the oral antibiotics to treat the infection.

If you or your partner have already tested positive for a STI by using a home test kit from another site or from visiting a sexual health clinic then you may still complete our simple medical questionnaire that our Doctor can assess for your suitability and, if approved, you can be prescribed oral antibiotics to treat the infection.

*For the Scottish Highlands, we use Royal Mail Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm next day for most post codes. Full postal details are available if you go to the “Delivery” tab. **The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) www.tdlpathology.com