Gonorrhoea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection. It used to be known as the ‘clap’. It affects both men and women and, as only half of infected women have any symptoms at all, regular screening for gonorrhoea is highly recommended if you are sexually active.

Why Use A Gonorrhoea Home Test?

Gonorrhoea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is passed by person to person during sexual contact. In men symptoms can include a discharge from the tip of the penis and in women a vaginal discharge. But in many cases the infection causes no symptoms so unless you are tested you wouldn’t know you have it. If untreated gonorrhoea can lead to infertility in both men and women and an increased risk of HIV.

Who Should Use A Gonorrhoea Home Test?

Those most at risk of gonorrhoea are women under the age of 25 and men who have sex with men. Gonorrhoea is most common is the 20-24 age group. But you are at risk if you have more then one sex partner, have a sex partner who has other partners and have had another sexually transmitted infection. If you have symptoms or are sexually active, then a test is recommended.

What’s In A Gonorrhoea Home Test Kit?

Some test providers will ask men for a urine sample so plastic containers will be included. Women may be asked for a urine sample, but some test providers ask for a swab test instead. A swab is very similar to a cotton bud.

If you think there was a sexual episode where you may have been exposed to gonorrhoea, then you are advised to test two weeks after that episode.

What Does A Gonorrhoea Home Test Do?

With most test providers your urine sample or swab test will be tested for the presence of the bacteria that causes gonorrhoea. This can be done is a variety of ways, but a reliable process used in many home tests is NAAT-the nucleic acid amplification test.