Almost half of women don’t show any symptoms for a sexual transmitted infection (STI) that has more than doubled on the Wirral.
Gonorrhoea is a bacteria that can be passed through sexual intercourse. It can also be passed from a pregnant mother to her baby and if left untreated cause serious health problems.
However as the bacteria cannot survive outside the body for long, you will not catch it from non-invasive bodily contact like kissing or hugging
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Recent statistics showed that cases of gonorrhoea have reached record highs across the country with cases more than doubling on the Wirral. In 2022, the diagnostic rate for the infection rose 237% compared to 2021 though Wirral remains below the England average.
The rise in STIs come at a time when the Local Government Association is warning sexual health services are “at risk of breaking point” arguing that cuts are not sustainable. Wirral’s sexual health services have had a real-terms cut of £400,000 between 2013 and 2022.
Symptoms of gonorrhoea include:
Discharge from the penis or vagina
Pain or burning during urination, and in women
Pain during sexual intercourse and abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods.
However if you are sexually active and haven’t tested negative recently, having no symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have it. Dr Babak Ashrafi, a GP specialising in sexual health said one in ten men and almost half of women don’t experience any symptoms. Resistance to antibiotic treatment is also an issue.
Dr Ashrafi added: “In women, untreated gonorrhoea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a severe infection of the reproductive organs that can cause infertility and chronic pelvic pain. In men, untreated gonorrhoea can cause epididymitis, a painful inflammation of the testicles.
“Gonorrhoea can also increase the risk of contracting and transmitting other STIs such as HIV, and spread to the bloodstream, causing Disseminated Gonococcal Infection (DGI), a life-threatening condition leading to clinical manifestations such as septic arthritis and skin rashes.
“Like all STIs, practising safe sex is the best way to prevent getting gonorrhoea. It is important to remember to always use a condom, do not share sex toys and ensure you get regularly tested for sexually transmitted diseases.”
On tackling antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria, he said it was essential people “use antibiotics only as prescribed by a healthcare provider” and practise the guidelines around safe sex.
He added: “It is important to inform your healthcare provider if you have recently travelled to areas where antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea is prevalent.”
If treatment doesn’t clear up the infection, Dr Ashrafi said: “Treatment failure can be a result of some strains of gonorrhoea that have become resistant to antibiotics, incorrect diagnosis or if you continue to have unprotected sex with an infected partner.
“If you have been treated for gonorrhoea but your symptoms persist or return, it's important to seek medical advice immediately. Your doctor may recommend additional testing to determine the cause of treatment failure and prescribe a different antibiotic regimen.”
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