What you need to know about oral gonorrhoea as cases rise in Ireland

These are the signs of oral gonorrhoea you might need to know

The Moncrieff show spoke with sexual health specialist Dr Aisling Loy, who explained that oral gonorrhoea and genital gonorrhoea are similar.

“The only difference is the location," Loy explains.

“It’s the same disease, the same bacteria, it’s just location. 

“When we do standard STI testing, generally, in heterosexuals, we tend to not look in the throat - unless there’s a very good reason. 

“We tend just to do, for gentlemen, a urine test and, for females, a vaginal swab.” 

Loy continues that after STI kits were sent, including a test for oral gonorrhoea, research showed some participants had the STI without realising:

“When that came back, they found that 2% of those 7,000 tested had oral gonorrhoea that wouldn’t have been picked up in a standard test,

“About 140 people were going around with an STI in their throats that wouldn’t have realised it. This is in the young population, you wouldn’t see as many in the old population - it tends to be under 25s.” 

So, what is oral gonorrhoea? And what are the signs?

According to Verywell Health, gonorrhoea is a common STI that affects the genital area, rectum and throat.

When it affects the throat, it is also known as pharyngeal gonorrhoea, or oral gonorrhoea.

Symptoms of the STI in the mouth and throat include:

• Sore throat
• Burning sensation in the throat
• Swollen glands
• White spots in the mouth

Any sexually active person who is having unprotected sex is at risk of contracting the STI.

Oral gonorrhoea can also be contracted via oral sex and sex toys.

If left untreated, pharyngeal gonorrhoea can lead to issues such as:

• Disseminated gonococcal infection - when the infection spreads in the body. It may cause pain in the joints or a rash.
• Heart infection
• Transmitted to other sex partners

If you believe you may have oral gonorrhoea, a proper diagnosis involves lab tests.

Treatment is received through antibiotics, usually via injection in the thigh or buttocks.

To avoid the risk of contracting the STI completely, the safest way is to not have oral, anal or vaginal sex.

If you are sexually active, it's recommended to practice safe sex

This means using barrier contraceptives like condoms or dental dams correctly during oral, anal or vaginal sex.

VeryWell Health also recommend mutually monogamous relationships among partners who haven't contracted gonorrhoea can reduce the risk of contracting the STI.

Dr. Loy also shared on the Moncrieff show that there is "limited evidence" that the STI can be contracted through kissing.

“This is largely modelling work done out of Melbourne, Australia in 2017. 

“They show that, yes, you can [get it] from deep kissing - French kissing - and all of that. 

“It’s rare, but it’s possible and it lives in saliva for a short period of time.” 

If you believe you may have an STI, the HSE offers free at-home STI tests for those aged 17 and over around Ireland.

To find out more, click here.