Gonorrhoea is caused by bacteria. It can infect the throat, vagina, lining of the penis, rectum or eye. It is passed easily from one person to another through sexual contact.
16–34 year old make up just over a quarter of Northern Ireland’s population yet account for most cases of gonorrhoea.
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Symptoms
The symptoms of gonorrhoea may include:
- a discharge from the vagina, penis or rectum;
- pain when passing urine;
- anal pain or bleeding.
There may be no signs, especially when infection is in the throat or rectum.
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Testing
It is important you attend a GUM clinic for treatment of gonorrhoea because it has become resistant to some antibiotic treatments. It’s currently treated with an injection and antibiotic tablet.
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Vaccination
From 1 August 2025, Meningococcal B vaccine to protect against the risk of gonorrhoea infection will be available from HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland as part of a world-first gonorrhoea vaccination programme.
The Meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero®) is part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule to protect against meningococcal meningitis. As meningococcal disease and gonorrhoea are closely related, evidence shows that the Meningococcal B vaccine provides good cross-protection against gonorrhoea.
Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) can get the vaccine. The vaccine will be administered by local Health and Social Care (HSC) trusts through GUM clinics. A number of Trusts will be running additional vaccination clinics during summer 2025 – check individual Trust websites for details:
- Belfast HSC Trust – Sexual health and HIV services | Belfast Health & Social Care Trust website
- Northern HSC Trust – Sexual Health Service (GUM) – Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- Southern HSC Trust – GUM (Genito Urinary Medicine) | Southern Health & Social Care Trust
- South Eastern HSC Trust – Sexual Health Service – South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust
- Western HSC Trust – Genitourinary Medicine and HIV Clinic | Western Health & Social Care Trust
For more information visit page Visiting a sexual health clinic (GUM clinic) – Sexual Health NI.
Further information on the vaccination to protect against gonorrhoea is available at the link below: A guide to the Meningococcal B vaccine for protection against gonorrhoea | HSC Public Health Agency
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Complications
If treated early, gonorrhoea is unlikely to lead to any complications or long-term problems. However, without treatment, it can spread to other parts of your body and cause serious problems.
The more times you have gonorrhoea, the more likely you are to have complications.
In women, gonorrhoea can spread to the reproductive organs and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is estimated to occur in 10 to 20% of cases of untreated gonorrhoea.