Do I have gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a common STI that's extremely easy to pass on. It occurs in both men and women. Gonorrhea can be passed on in various ways and the symptoms can be unpleasant, so it's good to know the facts about this STI. Read more or use the STI test guide for personal advice.
 
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Gonorrhea in brief
  • Gonorrhea is an STI caused by a bacterium.
  • The bacteria can lodge in the mucous membranes of the vagina, penis, anus, throat, cervix or eyes.
  • Gonorrhea causes uncomfortable symptoms especially in men, unlike many other STIs.
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What is gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea (sometimes called 'the clap' or 'drip') is an STI caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The bacteria can settle in the mucous membranes (thin, moist linings) of the vagina, penis, anus, throat, cervix or eyes. With over 18,000 infections per year, gonorrhea (after chlamydia) is the most common STI in the Netherlands. Like many other STIs, gonorrhea can be passed on during sex without a condom.

If you're a woman with gonorrhea, you probably won't notice any symptoms. But men with gonorrhea will usually notice symptoms. Whereas the chance of infection in women is around 20%, in men it's around 60%. The symptoms are not the worst part of having gonorrhea. If you don't get treated, it can lead to serious infections in both men and women. How to prevent gonorrhea? By using a condom during sex.
 
Gonorrhea testing
More than 20,000 others have already tested for gonorrhea

How do you get gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a bacterium. This means it can be passed on from person to person. It's not passed on by accidentally coughing or sneezing in someone's face, but by having sex with a partner. It's possible to pass on gonorrhea from man to man,  woman to woman and between men and women. This is because gonorrhea is not only passed on during penetrative sex, but also from contact between mucous membranes. The bacteria do not spread throughout the body, but stay in one place.

So gonorrhea can be transmitted through various sexual acts. But which ones exactly? And what are the chances of getting gonorrhea? Among other things, gonorrhea is passed on through sexual penetration. This is when a penis enters the vagina or anus. This is the most common way people get gonorrhea. But because it's a bacterium, gonorrhea can also be passed on in other ways. For example, it's possible to get gonorrhea from oral sex, fingering, masturbation, butt-licking (also called rimming) or rubbing genitals together. This is because these areas of the body have mucous membranes which can carry the bacteria.

Gonorrhea can also be passed on from using sex toys. The mucous membrane of the person with gonorrhea stays on the toy and can be passed on if another person uses it. So always clean sex toys before anyone else uses them or use a new condom on the toy every time.
 

What is the chance of getting gonorrhea?

A misconception is that an STI like gonorrhea is 100% transmissible. (My sex partner has chlamydia, so I must have it too.) The actual chance is smaller. The more often you have sex with someone who has gonorrhea, the greater the risk that you will get it too.

Chances of getting gonorrhea 
The chances of gonorrhea being passed on from a woman to man after a single episode of vaginal sex without a condom is estimated at 20-30%. While the chance of it being passed from a man to woman is around 50-90%.
If you have sex with a partner with gonorrhea more often, the chances increase to about 50% from woman to man and 90% from man to woman.

 

Symptoms of gonorrhea

When you have gonorrhea, you don't always have noticeable symptoms. Not everyone gets symptoms. 40% of women with gonorrhea have no (or almost no) symptoms at all. A man with gonorrhea will almost always get symptoms. The chance of getting gonorrhea is also a lot smaller in women than in men. The chance of a woman getting vaginal gonorrhea after sexual contact with a man who has gonorrhea is 20-30%. In men, this percentage is a lot higher, between 50-70%. 
 

How does an STI test work?

How does an online home STI test work?

1. Take the FREE STI test guide

Use our FREE STI Testing Guide, and get instant answers on which STI home test you need and the most reliable time to test.

2. Completely anonymous ordering and delivery

Soapoli-online delivers your STI home test discreetly. Order before 10.45 pm for delivery the next working day. Follow the clear instructions and to take the STI home test yourself..

3. Send your sample to our lab for FREE.

Send your sample to our ISO-certified laboratory free of charge. The reliability of home STI testing is the same as testing through the GP or GGD.

4. Get your results

The results of your home STI test will be visible within 1-3 working days in our results portal.

Testing for gonorrhea

Testing is the only way to know for sure whether or not you have gonorrhea. Soapoli-online is here for you. We have special gonorrhea tests that you can take at home. Save yourself an awkward visit to the doctor or the GGD and take the test when it suits you. With us, you order your STI test kit completely anonymously and receive the test kit discreetly packaged at home. We help you to get more certainty about your personal situation. Decide when to test yourself with the reliable gonorrhea test kits from Soapoli-online.

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How do I prevent gonorrhea?

The only way to prevent getting and passing on gonorrhea is to use a condom during sex and be careful about mucous membrane contact. You can get more information in how to prevent an STI.

Not sure if you have gonorrhea?

Take a test! It's the only way to know for sure whether or not you have gonorrhea. Soapoli-online is here for you. We have special gonorrhea tests that you can take at home. Save yourself an awkward visit to the doctor or the GGD and take the test when it suits you. With us, you order your STI test kit completely anonymously and receive your test kit discreetly packaged at home. We help you to get more certainty about your personal situation. Decide when to test yourself with the reliable gonorrhea test kits from Soapoli-online.


You can also contact us for other STI test packages, such as syphilis and HIV testinghepatitis B and C testing and PrEP check test kits. We're happy to help you!

You may get gonorrhea symptoms such as slimy discharge from the penis (called 'drip') or green/yellow discharge from the vagina, pain when urinating and itching or pain at the anus. Read more about the symptoms of gonorrhea and order an STI test if needed.

The chances of getting gonorrhea without having sex are very small. For example, you can get gonorrhea from kissing, but only if the person you are kissing with has gonorrhea in their throat. You can get gonorrhea in the throat from oral sex.

Sometimes gonorrhea goes away on its own, but most of the time it does not. If gonorrhea doesn't go away on its own, it can lead to unpleasant health problems. So it's important to get tested when in doubt. Fortunately, gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics.

Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics. Treatment is usually one antibiotic injection in your buttocks. Read more about gonorrhea treatment and, if necessary, order an STI test. We'll help you if arranging an injection isn't possible.