How to tell someone you have 'super-gonorrhoea'

Uh-oh. You've got gonorrhoea. And worse it's part of a new 'super' strain, which is resistant to the normal drugs.

An outbreak is spreading in the north of England, with 12 confirmed cases (which is a lot, say experts).

There are often no obvious symptoms, but they can include discharge from sexual organs, pain when urinating and bleeding between periods.

If you test positive you're advised to tell your recent sexual partner(s) so they can be tested too *shudder*.

It sounds embarrassing and difficult but it's "really important" according to Ian Fairley, Clinical Director for Sexual Health Services at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

But you don't necessarily have to tell them yourself.

It's standard that STI clinics will offer to tell your partner (or ex-partner) for you.

Ian Fairley says: "Most people will tell their current partners but as you go back the number does go down."

Ian says "most people will tell their current partners but as you go back the number does go down."

"If they say they don't want to call them, but are happy for us to we'll take the information and do it for them."

The process can be anonymous if you want it to be.

"We don't give out any information. It's all done with consent. They'd give us their phone numbers."

He says the clinic makes a phone call and say something like: "We've been given information that leads us to think you're at risk of a sexual infection and we'd advise you to come in for a screening."

"Most people recognise that it's good that they find out.

"They can be shocked" he adds, but "most of the time they come in quite happily to be tested."

Impact of gonorrhoea

According to staff at the clinic most people do actually agree to tell their sexual partners "out of conscience" because the impact of gonorrhoea can be serious - especially for women.

A lack of symptoms in men mean a positive result may come as a shock to some

Mostly men get symptoms but women get longer term complications.

"Gonorrhoea can cause scarring in their [fallopian] tubes making it difficult to get pregnant.

"It can also cause ectopic pregnancies and possibly infertility."

The infection is spread through unprotected vaginal, anal and oral sex.

Ninety-per-cent of men will get symptoms and that's generally what makes them go for a test.

Those symptoms can appear quite quickly, "within a week or two" of contracting the infection, according to Ian Fairley.

"Most women don't get symptoms so it's a bit more blurry."

Once someone is diagnosed they are encouraged to get treatment, but also to stop having sexual contact so as not to pass the infection on.

Ian says it's particularly important to inform someone you are intending to have sex with again, because you can become re-infected.

But what if someone refuses to tell their partners?

"We can encourage and keep asking," Ian says.

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