WHY PEasy?

Gonorrhoea is on the increase, especially in straight Black Caribbean men. Research shows we’re less likely to use postal testing services, yet we’re more likely to have gonorrhoea. Some of us have had bad experiences with health services, and that puts us off going again. Or we might be worried that testing is going to hurt. Or we don’t think we’re at risk of sexually transmitted infections. The PEasy project is here to help you put things right!

SYMPTOMS

Gonorrhoea can infect different parts of the body. In the dick symptoms include pain when you piss, unusual discharge from the piss slit (it could be white, green or yellow), and swelling of the foreskin. Sometimes there’s pain in the nuts.

Lots of people who have gonorrhoea don't have symptoms. Even if you don't have symptoms, you can still pass gonorrhoea on to sexual partners.

Arse, throat or vagina symptoms:
Symptoms of gonorrhoea in the vagina (or front hole) can include discharge (sometimes green or yellow), and bleeding between periods or heavier periods. Symptoms in the pee hole can include pain or burning when peeing. Gonorrhoea in the arse can cause discomfort, pain or discharge. Most people with gonorrhoea in the throat have no symptoms.

PREVENTION

Regular use of condoms can help prevent gonorrhoea. FREE condoms are available here. Because gonorrhoea can be in the throat it’s possible to get or pass it on by being blown. Regular testing for gonorrhoea (and other STIs) means you can get it treated quickly if you have it – and that means you’re not passing it on to your partners.

TESTING

Testing for gonorrhoea in the UK is FREE on the NHS. As well as using postal testing kits, testing is available at any sexual health clinic . If you have symptoms (see above) contact a clinic rather than using a postal kit. Testing is confidential: no-one will share your information or results without your permission. If you have no symptoms and have a dick, testing involves peeing in a pot.

Testing for gonorrhoea in the arse, throat or vagina (or front hole) usually involves a small swab being inserted to take a sample. This can be done yourself, or by a health worker at a clinic.

TREATMENT

Treatment for gonorrhoea usually involves a single injection in the buttock or thigh. It’s also sometimes possible to have tablets instead of an injection. It’s important to follow advice on when it’s OK to have sex again. The antibiotics don’t cure the infection straight away – and if you have sex before it’s treated, you could still pass it on.

If gonorrhoea’s left untreated, it can cause infertility and other long-term problems.

TELLING YOUR PARTNERS

If you find out you have gonorrhoea, then someone you’ve had sex with (recently or in the past) will also have it. Even if you got it a long time ago, you can still be passing it on to current or recent partners. If you get treated but your partners don’t, it’s likely that you will become infected again.

It’s not easy to tell a partner that you’ve got an STI, and that they might have one too. If you don’t want to tell them yourself most sexual health clinics will be able to contact recent partners for you. This can be done without the clinic giving your partners your name.

TESTING FOR EVERYONE

Sexual health services in the UK are available to everyone. Overseas students, refugees and other migrants can use these services for FREE and get treatment at NO cost. You don’t have to show ID or give your real name to use UK sexual health services.