Through having vaginal, anal or oral sex without using a condom. Or sharing sex toys if you don’t wash them or cover them with a condom each time they’re used.

What are the symptoms?

In women:

· An unusual vaginal discharge which may be thin or watery, yellow or greenish

· Pain when urinating

 · Infection in the rectum or the eyes

· Infection in the throat – you might not even know you have it!

· Lower abdominal pain or tenderness

· Bleeding between periods or heavier periods

In men:

· White, green or yellow discharge from the penis that may stain your underwear

· Pain when urinating

· Infection in the rectum or the eyes

· Infection in the throat – you might not even know you have it!

· Pain or tenderness in the testicles

· Sometimes inflammation of the foreskin

How can you get rid of it?

The STI clinic will carry out a few painless tests and give treatment. Early gonorrhoea can be cured with a course of antibiotics. Your partner should also be treated to avoid re-infection.

To help avoid getting one at all – use a condom!