Gonorea & Klamidia: Simptom pada Wanita, Ujian & Rawatan

Gonorea (gonorrhoea, also called kencing nanah) and klamidia (chlamydia) are common sexually transmitted infections caused by bacteria. Most women with either infection have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they include unusual vaginal discharge, burning when you pee, lower tummy pain and bleeding between periods or after sex. Both are diagnosed with a simple urine test or vaginal swab and cured with antibiotics. Without treatment, they can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and ectopic pregnancy, and can harm a baby during birth. This guide explains the symptoms in women, how testing and treatment work in Malaysia, and what to do if you are pregnant.

Apa itu gonorea dan klamidia?

Gonorrhoea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and chlamydia by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (WHO). Both are sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and both are preventable and curable (WHO).

They are among the most common STIs in the world. WHO estimates that in 2020 there were 82.4 million new gonorrhoea infections and 128.5 million new chlamydia infections among adults aged 15 to 49. Chlamydia is more common in women than in men, with an estimated global prevalence of 4.0% in women and 2.5% in men (WHO). In the United States, gonorrhoea is especially common among young people aged 15 to 24 (CDC).

The two infections often happen together, so they are usually tested for at the same time (Healthdirect). They are different from sifilis (syphilis), another bacterial STI.

Gonorea di Malaysia

Gonorrhoea cases are notified to the Ministry of Health in Malaysia, and the number of reported cases has more than doubled since 2022. According to Ministry of Health data published on data.gov.my:

Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia, via data.gov.my. The data is based on the date a case was reported, and some cases are not reported, so the real number is likely to be higher. The dataset does not include chlamydia. Because most infections cause no symptoms (WHO), many people do not know they have one.

Simptom gonorea dan klamidia pada wanita

Many women with gonorrhoea or chlamydia feel completely well. Most women with gonorrhoea have no symptoms or do not notice them (WHO), and most people with chlamydia have no symptoms (NHS). Even without symptoms, the infection can still damage the reproductive system (CDC).

Simptom gonorea pada wanita

If symptoms appear, they usually start around 2 weeks after infection, although sometimes they do not appear until many months later (NHS). They can include (NHS):

• a yellow or greenish discharge from your vagina;
• burning pain when you pee;
• pain in your lower tummy (abdomen);
• bleeding between your periods (this is rare).

Some women also have pain during sex or bleeding after sex (Healthdirect).

Simptom klamidia pada wanita

If symptoms appear, they can start from 1 week to several months after infection (NHS). They can include (NHS):

• vaginal discharge that is not normal for you;
• bleeding after sex or between periods;
• a burning feeling when you pee;
• pain in your lower tummy.

Symptoms in other parts of the body

Both infections can affect other parts of the body that come into contact with semen or vaginal fluid. This can cause pain, bleeding or discharge from the bottom (anus), a sore throat, or red, painful eyes with discharge (NHS). Throat infections often cause no symptoms (WHO).

Simptom pada lelaki

Men are more likely to notice symptoms of gonorrhoea (WHO). Symptoms in men include burning pain when peeing, discharge from the penis, and pain or swelling in the testicles (NHS). If your partner has these symptoms, you both need to be tested.

Get urgent help if

Ask for an urgent appointment if you have gonorrhoea, or think you might, and you develop red, itchy or painful eyes or pus that sticks to your eyelashes, a high temperature, joint pain or swelling, or a bumpy, spotty or blotchy rash. These can be signs of a more serious infection that needs to be treated quickly (NHS).

Call 999 or go to the emergency department if you have severe pelvic pain that is getting worse or hurts when you move, sudden sharp pain in your lower tummy, pelvic pain with heavy vaginal bleeding, a very high temperature, or you feel faint or very unwell. These can be signs of serious pelvic inflammatory disease (NHS).

Gonorea, klamidia atau jangkitan lain?

Gonorrhoea symptoms in women are often mild and can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection (CDC). Unusual discharge, itching and burning when you pee can also be caused by other common conditions, such as:

• vaginal thrush (jangkitan yis);
• bacterial vaginosis and other causes of keputihan (vaginal discharge);
• a urinary tract infection (UTI);
• other causes of gatal faraj (vaginal itching).

You cannot tell these apart from symptoms alone. If you have treated "thrush" or a "UTI" and the symptoms keep coming back, or you have had sex without a condom with a new partner, ask your doctor for a test for gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

Bagaimana gonorea dan klamidia merebak

Gonorrhoea and chlamydia are spread through vaginal fluid and semen. They can pass from person to person during vaginal, oral or anal sex without a condom (NHS). Chlamydia can also spread through vaginal fluid or semen that gets onto sex toys and hands (NHS), and gonorrhoea can be passed from the genitals to the eyes by the fingers (Healthdirect).

A pregnant woman with either infection can pass it to her baby during birth (NHS; CDC).

You cannot get chlamydia from toilets, swimming pools, spas or everyday contact with people (Healthdirect). You can get either infection even if you have had only one partner, if that partner has it, and you can catch it again after being treated (CDC).

Ujian: bila dan di mana

When to get tested

See a doctor or sexual health service if (NHS):

• you or a sexual partner think you might have gonorrhoea or chlamydia;
• you or a sexual partner have had sex without a condom;
• you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant and think you might have one of these infections.

Because most infections have no symptoms, regular testing is recommended for some women. CDC advises sexually active women to get tested for gonorrhoea and chlamydia every year if they are younger than 25, or 25 and older with risk factors, such as a new or more than one sex partner, or a partner who has an STI. The NHS suggests getting tested once a year, or whenever you have a new sexual partner.

Where to get tested in Malaysia

You can ask for an STI test at a klinik kesihatan, a GP or a private clinic. You can ask for a female doctor and for someone else to be in the room during an examination (NHS).

What the test involves

The doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and sexual partners, and may need to examine your vagina (NHS). Testing usually involves (NHS; WHO):

• a swab (like a large cotton bud) to take a sample of fluid from your vagina or cervix, which you may be able to do yourself;
• or a urine sample;
• a swab from the throat, anus or eyes if these areas are affected.

Chlamydia cannot be tested with a blood test (Healthdirect). You can be tested even if you have no symptoms, and you may be offered tests for other STIs, such as HIV and syphilis, at the same time (NHS; WHO).

A Pap smear is not an STI test

Cervical screening checks the cervix for high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and for cell changes that could lead to cancer (NHS). It is not the same as a gonorrhoea or chlamydia test, but you can ask to be screened for chlamydia at the same visit (Healthdirect). See our guide to Pap smear and HPV tests in Malaysia.

Rawatan gonorea dan klamidia

Both infections are treated with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. Treatment may be started before your test results come back (NHS).

Doctors often treat both infections together if chlamydia has not been ruled out in someone with gonorrhoea (CDC).

After treatment

• Take all of the medicine, even if you feel better, and do not share your medicine with anyone (CDC).
• Do not have vaginal, oral or anal sex until you and your partner have finished treatment and tests show the infection has gone (NHS). If you were given a single dose, wait 7 days after taking it before having sex (CDC; WHO).
• Your partner needs testing and treatment too. Your current and recent sexual partners need to be tested. A clinic can help you contact them, or contact them for you without naming you (NHS). If your partner is not treated, you can catch the infection again.
• Go back if symptoms continue. Gonorrhoea is becoming harder to treat because drug-resistant strains are increasing, so return to the doctor if your symptoms continue for more than a few days after treatment (CDC; WHO).

Do not treat a possible STI yourself with leftover antibiotics, antibiotics bought without a prescription or traditional remedies. Taking the wrong medicine, or not taking it as directed, is one reason treatment fails (WHO).

Being diagnosed with an STI can feel upsetting or embarrassing. Gonorrhoea is a very common STI, it can be easily treated, and you can fully recover (Healthdirect).

Komplikasi jika tidak dirawat

The sooner you get treatment, the easier complications are to treat (NHS). Without treatment, gonorrhoea and chlamydia can cause:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The infection can spread to the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries (NHS). Gonorrhoea and chlamydia are major causes of PID and infertility in women (WHO).
• Infertility, ectopic pregnancy and long-term pelvic pain. PID can cause scar tissue that blocks the fallopian tubes, which can lead to difficulty getting pregnant, a pregnancy outside the womb and long-term pelvic or tummy pain (CDC). See our guides to mengandung luar rahim (ectopic pregnancy) and trying to get pregnant.
• Joint pain. Chlamydia can cause pain in the joints (reactive arthritis), which usually gets better after a few months (NHS). Rarely, gonorrhoea spreads to the blood or joints, which can be life-threatening (CDC).
• Eye infection if you touch your eyes after touching infected fluid (NHS).
• A Bartholin’s abscess. An infected Bartholin’s cyst, a painful lump on one side of the vaginal opening, may be caused by infections including gonorrhoea or chlamydia (NHS). See our guide to kista Bartholin.
• A higher risk of HIV. Both infections increase the risk of getting or passing on HIV (WHO).

Antibiotics stop the infection but cannot undo damage that has already been done (CDC). This is why testing is important even when you feel well.

Signs of pelvic inflammatory disease

Not everyone with PID has symptoms. Possible symptoms include pain in the pelvis or lower tummy, pain deep inside during sex, heavy or painful periods that are unusual for you, bleeding between periods or after sex, and unusual vaginal discharge (NHS). See a doctor urgently if you have these symptoms, especially if you are or might be pregnant (NHS).

Gonorea dan klamidia semasa mengandung

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and think you might have gonorrhoea or chlamydia, get tested and treated before your baby is born (NHS).

• Gonorrhoea in pregnancy can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. It can also spread to the baby's eyes during birth (gonococcal conjunctivitis), which can cause blindness if not treated with antibiotics (NHS).
• Chlamydia that is not treated can pass to the baby during birth and cause an eye infection (conjunctivitis) or a lung infection (pneumonia), which can be treated with antibiotics (NHS). It has also been linked to premature birth and low birth weight (WHO).

Tell your doctor you are pregnant, because some antibiotics are not suitable in pregnancy. For example, doxycycline is not used in the second and third trimesters, and azithromycin is the recommended treatment for chlamydia in pregnancy (CDC). If you are treated for chlamydia while pregnant, you will be tested again 4 weeks after treatment (NHS). Gonorrhoea in pregnancy is treated with a single injection of ceftriaxone, together with treatment for chlamydia if it has not been ruled out (CDC).

Cara kurangkan risiko

You can lower your risk of gonorrhoea, chlamydia and other STIs if you (NHS; CDC):

• use a condom for vaginal or anal sex, and a condom or a latex or plastic square (dam) for oral sex;
• get tested once a year, or when you or your partner have a new sexual partner;
• if you are in a long-term relationship with one partner, make sure your partner has been tested;
• make sure you and your partner complete the full treatment if either of you has an infection;
• do not share sex toys, or wash them and cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.

Condoms are one of the most effective ways to protect against STIs, including HIV (WHO). If you also need contraception, see our guides to pil perancang (contraception) and emergency contraception. There is no vaccine for chlamydia, and no specific vaccine for gonorrhoea, although a meningitis B vaccine seems to give some protection against gonorrhoea and is still being studied (WHO).

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Apa itu gonorea dan klamidia (what are gonorrhoea and chlamydia)?

Gonorrhoea (gonorea, sometimes called kencing nanah) and chlamydia (klamidia) are common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by bacteria. They are passed on through vaginal, oral or anal sex without a condom, and both can be cured with antibiotics (NHS; WHO). WHO estimates that in 2020 there were 82.4 million new gonorrhoea infections and 128.5 million new chlamydia infections among adults worldwide. In Malaysia, 4,060 gonorrhoea cases were notified to the Ministry of Health in 2024 (data.gov.my).

Apa simptom gonorea pada wanita (what are the symptoms of gonorrhoea in women)?

Most women with gonorrhoea have no symptoms or do not notice them (WHO). When symptoms happen, they can include a yellow or greenish discharge from the vagina, burning pain when you pee, pain in your lower tummy and, rarely, bleeding between periods (NHS). Symptoms are often mild and can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection (CDC), so a test is the only way to know.

Apa simptom klamidia pada wanita (what are the symptoms of chlamydia in women)?

Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms (NHS). When women do get symptoms, they can include vaginal discharge that is not normal for you, bleeding after sex or between periods, a burning feeling when you pee and pain in your lower tummy (NHS). Symptoms can start from 1 week to several months after infection (NHS).

Boleh ke gonorea dan klamidia sembuh (can gonorrhoea and chlamydia be cured)?

Yes. Both are treated and cured with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor (NHS; WHO). Your partner also needs to be tested and treated, and you should not have sex until you have both finished treatment and tests show the infection has gone (NHS). Gonorrhoea is becoming harder to treat because of antibiotic resistance, so go back to the doctor if symptoms continue a few days after treatment (CDC). Treatment stops the infection but cannot undo damage already done (CDC), and you can catch either infection again.

Boleh dapat gonorea atau klamidia dari tandas awam (can you get them from a public toilet)?

No. You cannot get chlamydia from toilets, swimming pools, spas or everyday contact with people (Healthdirect). Gonorrhoea and chlamydia are spread through vaginal fluid and semen during vaginal, oral or anal sex without a condom, and from a mother to her baby during birth (NHS).

Klamidia boleh menyebabkan tidak subur (can chlamydia cause infertility)?

It can if it is not treated. Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhoea can spread to the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy and long-term pelvic pain (NHS; CDC). Chlamydia is unlikely to cause long-term problems if it is treated early (WHO), which is why testing matters even when you feel well.

Gonorea dan klamidia bahaya ke semasa mengandung (are they dangerous in pregnancy)?

They can be. Gonorrhoea in pregnancy can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight, and can spread to the baby's eyes during birth, which can cause blindness if not treated (NHS). Chlamydia can pass to the baby during birth and cause an eye infection or pneumonia, which can be treated with antibiotics (NHS). If you are pregnant and think you might have either infection, get tested and treated before your baby is born, and tell the doctor you are pregnant so they choose a medicine that is safe in pregnancy (NHS; CDC).

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. See a doctor if you think you might have a sexually transmitted infection, and get urgent help for severe pain, fever or heavy bleeding.

References

• Gonorrhoea — NHS
• Chlamydia — NHS
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — NHS
• What is cervical screening? — NHS
• Gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection) — World Health Organization fact sheet
• Chlamydia — World Health Organization fact sheet
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — World Health Organization fact sheet
• About gonorrhea — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• About chlamydia — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Gonococcal infections among adolescents and adults: STI treatment guidelines — CDC
• Chlamydial infections: STI treatment guidelines — CDC
• Gonorrhoea (the clap) — Healthdirect Australia
• Chlamydia — Healthdirect Australia
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) by state — Ministry of Health Malaysia, data.gov.my