What is Super Gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea is the second-most common STD in the UK. But, with such a steep rise in infections year on year, is there a bigger risk of antibiotic-resistant strains? In this article we take a look at something called “super gonorrhoea” and what you can do to stay clear of it. So, first things first, what is super gonorrhoea? 

Super gonorrhoea is a strain of the STD gonorrhoea that is resistant to antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone and azithromycin. Because of the antibiotic resistance that this strain of gonorrhoea has developed, doctors are struggling to find a cure, increasing the risk that the infection will develop into secondary health conditions, such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

Read on to learn how super gonorrhoea differs to gonorrhoea, how you can stay safe against the infection, and the signs and symptoms to look out for.

Gonorrhoea VS Super Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the UK with over 82,500 cases reported each year. Also known as ‘the clap’, it’s caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoea, sometimes referred to as gonococcus. The bacteria is usually found in penis discharge or vaginal fluid and it can be spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex.

Super-gonorrhoea refers to a new strain of gonorrhoea that has become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat the disease. Doctors are concerned about these outbreaks as alternative treatment methods have to be found and it could be the first of many previously easily treatable diseases that have built up a resistance to antibiotics.

Where Did Super Gonorrhoea Start?

Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea infections are quite common in other parts of the world, such as Asia, but are quite unusual (and rare) to find in the UK. The first case of ‘super gonorrhoea’ was detected in 2016, but cases rose to 12 in 2022. Because we’ve seen over a 50% increase in positive gonorrhoea infections from 2021 to 2022 in the UK alone, the risk of more antibiotic-resistant strains are likely to increase

What Are the Symptoms Of Super Gonorrhoea?

The symptoms of “super gonorrhoea” are the same as normal gonorrhoea with the only difference being the disease’s resistance to common treatment methods. In men, the symptoms of gonorrhoea will usually appear within 10 days of infection and include: 

• Green, yellow or white discharge from the penis
• A burning feeling during urination
• Swelling around the foreskin
• Testicular pain

Women generally show symptoms far less than men and many show no symptoms at all. Some signs that may show in women include:

• Pain during urination
• A change in vaginal discharge
• Heavy periods or bleeding in between periods

People who have been infected in their throat or rectum are less likely to notice symptoms. Gonorrhoea in the rectum may sometimes cause discharge or discomfort.

The fact that gonorrhoea often shows no symptoms, particularly in women, means that the only effective way of diagnosing the condition is through testing. If you’ve had unprotected sex with someone then you risk being exposed to gonorrhoea along with a number of other STIs so you should be tested.

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of an infection in one of our recent blogs: What Are the Symptoms Of Gonorrhoea?

For more information on how long it takes for symptoms of gonorrhoea to show, read this helpful blog: How Long After Sex Do STI Symptoms Appear?

If Left Untreated, Gonorrhoea Can Cause Complications

Gonorrhoea can cause a range of long-term health complications if left untreated in both men and women.

In women, gonorrhoea can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) with symptoms ranging from minor abdominal pain to more serious internal abscesses. In some cases, PID can affect the fallopian tubes enough to cause infertility or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

In men, gonorrhoea can cause epididymitis, which in rare cases may lead to male infertility.

Why Can’t Super Gonorrhoea Be Treated?

Normal gonorrhoea is treated using a routine course of antibiotics. The most commonly prescribed form of antibiotics for gonorrhoea is a powerful mixture of ceftriaxone and azithromycin. 

The latest strain of “super-gonorrhoea” is resistant to both of these, meaning that treatment of the disease is extremely difficult. One of the women who was infected in 2016 had to be treated with an IV drip such was the resistance to the standard medications.

With cases of super-gonorrhoea now occurring in the UK, it means that retesting following treatment is essential to ensure you’re cured. Following your course of antibiotics it’s recommended that you take another test two weeks after you’ve finished your course of treatment to be certain that the disease has been treated.

So, Should We Stop Using Antibiotics To Treat Gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea is the latest disease to show resistance to antibiotics that were previously effective against the condition. One of the reasons for gonorrhoea developing into a superinfection is due to our overreliance on antibiotics. Health professionals have warned that our antibiotic use should be cut down to prevent future bacterial resistance to them.

It’s thought that antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause more than 2,000 deaths per year and some doctors have warned that without a reduction of antibiotic use then many routine medical procedures may become too risky to carry out.

With this in mind, it’s important that you only take antibiotics when a doctor prescribes them. In cases of sexually transmitted infections, you should only take antibiotics after you’ve been tested and it’s confirmed that you are infected.

Staying Safe Against Super Gonorrhoea

Just like normal gonorrhoea, “super gonorrhoea” can be prevented through the responsible use of condoms during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Although condoms don’t completely remove the risk of all sexually transmitted diseases, they are effective in preventing the spread of gonorrhoea in almost all cases if the condom is used correctly.

Because antibiotic-resistant STDs are more prevalent in other countries, you must stay extra safe when engaging in sexual contact whilst travelling. Learn more about staying safe whilst on holiday in one of our helpful articles: Where to Access STD Testing When Travelling

Regular sexual health testing can also be an effective way to avoid spreading the disease. If you’ve had unprotected sex with someone for the first time then you should be tested. This will allow you to identify the disease so that you can receive treatment and avoid passing it on to any future sexual partners.

To learn more about the ways in which gonorrhoea is spread, read our helpful blog: How Do You Catch Gonorrhoea?

Testing For Super Gonorrhoea

“Super-gonorrhoea” can be diagnosed using the same testing methods as normal gonorrhoea. There are a range of testing methods which can diagnose the condition, including methods that use a swab and those which use a urine sample.

Unless you’ve been notified that you may have gonorrhoea by a former sexual partner, or you’re exhibiting symptoms which a doctor believes may indicate gonorrhoea, testing should always be completed for a wider range of conditions as opposed to gonorrhoea in isolation. If you’ve had unprotected sex, you might have been exposed to any sexually transmitted infection.

Here at Your Sexual Health, we offer gonorrhoea testing as an Instant Test, which can diagnose you in under 30 minutes. We also offer a number of standard urine and swab tests which offer accurate laboratory results against gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

If you’ve had oral or anal sex then you will need to complete a swab test of the affected area to accurately diagnose the condition.

Stay Safe With Your Sexual Health

If you’re worried about a potential gonorrhoea infection, you must get a sexual health test to be sure. At Your Sexual Health, we offer a range of testing options to suit you. We have over 150+ private sexual health clinics located up and down the UK, offering both instant and comprehensive profile testing options. 

If you prefer to test within the comfort of your own home, or you’re travelling in the UK, you can also order one of our postal test kits. If you aren’t sure which test to go for, get in touch with a member of our team who would be more than happy to help.

If you’re looking for more advice on gonorrhoea, visit our dedicated advice page.