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GONORRHOEA – DIAGNOSTIC

In men, gonorrhoea is diagnosed by taking a specimen of the urethral discharge, and placing it on a slide. After appropriate staining, the slide is examined under a microscope, when clusters of bean-shaped gonococci, which seem to prefer to lie in pairs, are found inside pus cells. In women, the diagnosis is often more difficult and, when gonorrhoea is suspected, smears are usually taken from the woman’s urethra, upper vagina, and cervix. These smears are placed on special glass dishes which contain a nutrient material and the dishes are heated, or incubated, for two days. In this way, any gonococci present will grow, and the growth will be seen on the material in the dish. If a specimen from this material is then examined under a microscope the typical bean-shaped germs of gonorrhoea can be identified.

With the diagnosis made, treatment can be started. If you have acquired gonorrhoea, you can help stop the disease spreading by persuading the person who infected you to be seen by a doctor so that she (or he) may be treated.

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