What is it about ?
Gonorrhea or gonorrhea (also known as ‘hot piss’) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. The disease is transmitted almost exclusively through sexual contact with an infected person. In addition to symptoms in the genitals, complaints may appear in the rectum (in case of anal sex) or pharynx (in case of oral sex).
What is its frequency?
The frequency of gonorrhea varies greatly from country to country. In 2014, 1,144 cases of gonorrhea were diagnosed (50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) in Belgium. The number of infections is probably much higher, because people who have no or few symptoms do not see a doctor. However, they can still transmit the disease. The risk of infection is quite high: up to 70% after just having sex with someone with gonorrhea. Women are more easily infected than men.
How to recognize it?
Symptoms are usually mild, sometimes even absent. You can therefore be infected without knowing it. In 60% of men, however, the complaints manifest themselves clearly 2 to 5 days after infection, in the form of a burning sensation when urinating or a yellowish urethral discharge. Epididymitis is a possible complication. In women, only 30% have obvious symptoms 1 to 2 weeks after infection, in the form of vaginal discharge, painful urination and pain in the lower abdomen. Pelvic inflammatory disease can appear as a complication.
How is the diagnosis made?
In humans, the doctor will have the urine analyzed in the laboratory. Sometimes he will take a sample of the urethral discharge with a cotton swab or swab. In women, the doctor will smear the cervix. The results of these tests will be known after a few days.
What can you do ?
If you have symptoms reminiscent of a sexually transmitted disease, contact your doctor for the appropriate examinations. If gonorrhea is established, it is also important to identify the source of the contamination. The person who infected you should also be treated.
What can your doctor do?
The doctor will treat you with antibiotics, usually as a single injection. After treatment, the doctor will have a control sample tested to make sure the infection is gone.
Want to know more?
- What are STIs? (video) – LoveAttitude
- What is gonorrhea? (video) – LoveAttitude
- Modes of transmission of STIs – Depistage.be
- Protecting yourself against STIs – PPS – AIDS prevention platform
- Gonorrhea – Depistage.be
- Infections (viral, bacterial, etc.) and immunity – mongeneraliste.be – SSMG – Scientific Society of General Medicine
Are you looking for more specialized help?
- Approved family planning centers in Wallonia and Brussels – LoveAttitude
- Testing centers – PPS – AIDS prevention platform
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