You can only discover whether you have gonorrhoea by having a test. You may decide to have a test if:
- You or your partner think you have symptoms.
- You have recently had unprotected sex with someone.
- You have had unprotected sex with a new partner.
- During a vaginal examination your doctor/nurse says that the cervix (neck of the womb) is inflamed or red.
- You have an unusual discharge.
- An ex-partner says they have a STI.
- You are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and think you may have a STI.
Myths about gonorrhoea tests.
- Even if your partner has tested negative, you should not rely on their result to detect whether you have gonorrhoea.
- If you have had gonorrhoea before, you are not immune to it, and can catch it again.
- Cervical smears and general vaginal swabs taken by a GP do not detect gonorrhoea.
When can I have the test?
- It is possible to do a test within a few days of having sex, but you may be asked to wait for a week after sex before being tested.
- If you do have gonorrhoea, it is a good idea to get tested for other STI’s, as you can have more than one STI at a time.
What happens during a test?
There are different ways of testing.
- A test organised by a doctor or nurse is best.
- You may have to provide a urine sample for testing.
- If you are a woman, a swab from the vagina or cervix is the best way to test for gonorrhoea. If you are a man a swab from the urethra or a urine sample can be sent to test for gonorrhoea.
- You will be asked to not pass urine for 2 hours before the test.
- If you have had oral sex, a doctor may collect a sample of cells from the back of your throat.
- The swabs are like very small rounded, cotton buds. They take a few seconds to do and are not painful, though sometimes a bit uncomfortable.
- The tests we perform are inexpensive, compete with on-line test prices, are performed in a proper laboratory and test results are interpreted by a Specialist doctor. Results are usually available in 48 hours.
BE REASSURED, BE FREE, BE TESTED!
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