Gonorrhoea cases in England have resurged since the easing of Covid restrictions, health officials are warning people who are sexually active.
The disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The infection is spread by unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex.
Symptoms can include a thick green or yellow discharge from sexual organs, pain when urinating and bleeding between periods, but some people will have no symptoms.
Condoms can stop the spread of this and other sexually transmitted infections.
Experts say people should practise safe sex and get tested regularly if they are having sex with new or casual partners. Testing is simple, free and discreet, they advise.
Provisional data shows diagnoses in the first half of 2022 hit 56,327 - 21% higher than for the same period in 2019.
An untreated infection can lead to infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and can be passed on to a child during pregnancy.
Source: BBC News, 16 March 2023
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