What Does Gonorrhoea Smell Like?
Gonorrhoea is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK after chlamydia, yet many people don’t know what the infection looks like. In this article, our Medical Director, Dr Bani, explains one of the more uncommon symptoms of the infection – the scent. So, let’s get straight to it, does gonorrhoea smell?
Gonorrhoea can cause a slight smell in the genital region alongside unusual discharge, which is usually described as a ‘mushroom-like’ smell in women. Smell alone, however, does not always occur and is not a reliable indicator of a gonorrhoea infection.
Read on to find out more about the odour gonorrhoea can cause, how this differs between men and women, and where you can get comprehensive yet discreet STD testing in the UK.
Does Gonorrhoea Have An Odour?
Although uncommon, a gonorrhoea infection can cause an unusual odour. The actual smell differs between men and women but is usually quite a foul smell, which is quite different from the usual smell of discharge and/or the genital area.
It is important to note that just because your genital region may smell different to how it does usually, it does not always mean that you have contracted gonorrhoea.
What Does Gonorrhoea Smell Like On a Man?
Gonorrhoea can cause unusual discharge (also known as a ‘drip’) from the penis, which may have a slightly foul smell, comparable to mushrooms or fish.
Interestingly, a study conducted in 2011 found that a very high proportion of men who had gonorrhoea also had sweat and saliva that was described as ‘putrid’. Researchers
presented the samples of sweat and saliva to a group of women who tested and compared those same samples to a group of ‘healthy’ men.
Although the results of this experiment were certainly interesting, we would not recommend trying to diagnose an STD based on scent alone. You must get tested for an accurate diagnosis.
What Does Gonorrhoea Smell Like On a Woman?
In women, gonorrhoea can affect vaginal discharge, which may turn an unusual yellow or green colour. Alongside that, discharge from a woman infected with gonorrhoea may have an unusual ‘mushroom-like’ or ‘fishy’ vaginal odour.
What Other Symptoms Does Gonorrhoea Present?
Gonorrhoea can present several other symptoms, alongside an unusual odour. These might include one or a few of the following:
- Pain during urination
- Urinating more frequently
- Pain during sex
- An itchy rash around the anus
- Painful bowel movements
- Inflammation around the genital area
- Pus-like discharge from your penis, which is yellow, white, or green
- Unusual vaginal discharge that is watery, creamy, or green in colour
- A change in your normal period
- Spotting between periods
Symptoms usually become noticeable around 2-30 days after your exposure to the STD, however, some people may not get any symptoms at all – which is why it is essential to get a comprehensive sexual health checkup after every new sexual partner.
Reliable Gonorrhoea Testing With Your Sexual Health
If you think you have symptoms of a gonorrhoea infection, you must get tested as soon as it is safe to do so. At Your Sexual Health, we offer a range of comprehensive STD tests which can be taken at a clinic in your city, or within the comfort of your own home via our discreet postal test service.
If you’re looking for tailored advice, or you aren’t sure which gonorrhoea test to choose, don’t hesitate to contact our team. For more information about gonorrhoea, read our comprehensive online guide: gonorrhoea – everything you need to know.
Related Questions
Which STDs Cause a Bad Smell?
There are a few STDs which can affect the smell of your genitals and can particularly affect the smell of a woman’s vaginal discharge. These include but are not limited to:
- Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Trichomoniasis
For more information about STDs which can cause a bad odour, read one of our recent blogs: Is It Normal for Vaginal Odour to Change with an STD?
How Long Can You Have Gonorrhoea Without Knowing?
Around 5 in 10 women and 1 in 10 men won’t present any symptoms of gonorrhoea, and therefore a gonorrhoea infection can go unnoticed for a long time. This means that some people go months or years without knowing about the STD. Infection can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious complications (such as pelvic inflammatory disease), which is usually when the STD is detected.
How is Gonorrhoea Tested For?
You can accurately test for Gonorrhoea 2 weeks or 14 days after transmission. The test requires a urine or swab sample, which is collected during a clinic visit or via a postal test kit. Unfortunately, you can’t currently test for a gonorrhoea infection with a blood test.
If you’d like to find out how long you need to wait between having sex and testing for an infection like chlamydia or gonorrhoea, read one of our helpful articles: How Long After Sex Should You Test For STDs?