What are the symptoms of gonorrhoea?

Not everyone who has gonorrhoea develops symptoms. About 90% of men with gonorrhoea have symptoms. Gonorrhoea causes symptoms in about 30% to 60% of women. Symptoms are rare unless the genitals are infected. Gonorrhoea can also be present in the throat or anus, but 90% of patients do not experience any symptoms from these locations.

Symptoms may include:

• burning sensation or pain while urinating (peeing)
• discharge from the penis
• increased or unusual discharge from the vagina
• vaginal bleeding between periods

These symptoms usually start between 2 days and 3 weeks after infection. In rare cases, the bacteria that causes gonorrhoea can enter the bloodstream and cause infections in other parts of the body. This may lead to joint inflammation, blood poisoning or meningitis.

If you think that you might have gonorrhoea, get tested by your own doctor (GP) or at the Municipal Public Health Services (GGD). More information about STI testing.

What could happen if gonorrhoea is not treated soon enough?

If gonorrhoea is not treated soon enough, you could develop more serious symptoms, such as:

• infection of the epididymis (behind the testicles)
• prostate infection
• pelvic inflammatory disease (lower abdominal pain, fever, unusual vaginal discharge and irregular menstruation)
• reduced fertility
• ectopic pregnancy

How does gonorrhoea spread?

Gonorrhoea is very contagious, even before the first symptoms appear. You can contract gonorrhoea by having sex without condoms. The bacteria can be present in the mucous membranes of the vagina, urethra, anus and throat. The bacteria usually spread through contact between penis and anus or penis and vagina. You can also contract gonorrhoea through contact with hands, sex toys or mouth (oral sex). If contaminated bodily fluids or excretions, such as sperm, come into contact with your face, you could develop an eye infection.

How can I prevent gonorrhoea?

Always use a condom or dental dam during sex to keep from getting gonorrhoea. Even if you have had gonorrhoea before, you could get it again.

Is there any treatment for gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics. The antibiotic used for gonorrhoea treatment in the Netherlands is called Ceftriaxon. The bacteria that cause gonorrhoea can become resistant to certain antibiotics. If that happens, those antibiotics are no longer effective in treating the bacteria. Gonorrhoea has not become resistant to Ceftriaxon in the Netherlands – or at least not yet. It is already happening in other countries, however.

Should I tell my sex partners that I have gonorrhoea?

If you have gonorrhoea, it is very likely that your sex partners also have gonorrhoea. That is why they need to be informed and tested, and should also receive treatment if necessary. By doing so, you help prevent the virus from spreading. Have you been tested, and do you have gonorrhoea? Then you can warn your sex partners that you have an STI through the website at partnerwaarschuwing.nl. You can warn your partners anonymously.

Is gonorrhoea dangerous during pregnancy?

Gonorrhoea during pregnancy can cause severe symptoms, such as infection of the uterus. It can also cause pre-term birth. Moreover, the baby could contract gonorrhoea during childbirth, leading to eye infections or blindness.

How common is gonorrhoea in the Netherlands?

Gonorrhoea is more common among men who have sex with men than among heterosexual people.  Since mid-2022, there has been an increase in the number of young people under 25 years old who have gonorrhoea. In 2023, 13,853 people who were tested at a sexual health centre had gonorrhoea. GPs in the Netherlands identified about 14,500 cases of gonorrhoea in 2022. Good to know: the primary care data from GPs is one year behind.