Is gonorrhoea only sexually transmitted? My 17-year-old got it and I was horrified she was even having sex. Could she have caught it another way?
Name withheld, via email
In the majority of incidences, gonorrhoea is transmitted by sex – be it vaginal, anal or oral – but this isn’t always the case. I know of doctors who’ve contracted gonorrhoea after touching infected patients – in a non-sexual way, of course. While it cannot survive well in a dry environment outside of the body, it’s been shown to survive for short periods on plastic, so, in theory, could be transmitted via shared sex toys. While there’s been research into whether it’s possible to catch STIs from toilet seats, no evidence has been found to suggest this occurs. The likelihood is your daughter caught it through sex. You should talk to her about safe sex and answer any questions she may have. Gonorrhoea is easily treatable with antibiotics, though she should avoid sex until the course has been completed.