Understanding the difference between Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea often get confused, and it’s not surprising why. The two bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) share a lot in common, including how they’re transmitted and many of their symptoms. They’re also two of the most common bacterial STIs.

In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at these two STIs, their similarities and differences, and how to protect yourself.

What are STIs?

STIs are infections that are primarily spread from person to person through sexual contact, or through other acts like sharing sex toys or needles. They can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites and can affect both men and women. Most STIs can be easily treated with medication, but if left untreated, they can lead to serious health problems such as infertility, cancer, and even death.

How are Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea transmitted?

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea are both bacterial STIs that are spread through sexual contact. This can include vaginal, anal, or oral sex. They can also be spread from mother to baby during childbirth.

It’s important to remember that most people who are infected with an STI will not show any symptoms. It’s possible to have either of these STIs and not know it.

Symptoms they have in common

Both Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea have similar symptoms, such as:

• Pain or discomfort during sex
• Pain or discomfort during urination
• Abnormal discharge from the penis and/or vagina
• Lower abdominal pain
• Abnormal swelling of the testicles and/or scrotum

These infections can also infect other areas of the body, such as the eyes, throat, and rectum. Both of these infections can cause:

• Rectum: Abnormal discharge from the rectum, pain, bleeding, painful bowel movements
• Eyes: Inflammation, itching, abnormal discharge from the eyes
• Throat: Cough, soreness

Symptoms they don’t have in common

One of the main differences between Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea is that Chlamydia is often more asymptomatic. Gonorrhoea, on the other hand, produces symptoms more often, especially in men.

The discharge people experience with Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea may also be different.

• The discharge caused by Chlamydia is more likely to have a strong, unpleasant smell and a cloudy appearance. For women, the discharge may be yellowish, and for men, the discharge may be cloudy or clear.
• The discharge caused by Gonorrhoea tends to be white, yellow, or greenish in both men and women.

Complications of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea

Both Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.

In women, these infections can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to infertility. In men, they can cause epididymitis, an inflammation of the testicles.

Both infections can also increase the risk of getting and transmitting HIV.

Final thoughts

Taking care of your sexual health is important, especially when it comes to STIs like Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea.

You can protect yourself by practising safe sex, using condoms, and getting tested on a regular basis. If you are concerned that you may have an STI, you can contact Better2Know to arrange confidential testing.