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Whittall Street Clinic is featured in Channel 4's new programme ‘The Sex Clinic’, starts 10pm Thursday 11th April.
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New Rapid HIV Testing clinic at St Martin’s in the Bullring
Now open every Tuesday 11.00am - 3.15pm - no appointment needed.
The clinic is located upstairs in the St Martin’s Centre for Health & Healing next to the Church in the Bullring. Entrance to the clinic is via St Martin’s church shop.
Non-Gonococcal Urethritis (NGU)
Non-specific Urethritis (NSU) is only found in men; it is inflammation and irritation of the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder). This is a sexually transmitted infection mostly (but not exclusively) caused by chlamydia. Herpes, trichomonas, and gonorrhoea may be other causes of NGU. It is therefore advisable for patients with NGU to be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
If left untreated, NGU can have long term effects on health including painful infection in the testicles.
A number of patients with NGU may test negative for chlamydia, or gonorrhoea. Nevertheless, their partner(s) still need to be treated for chlamydia. Otherwise, they may develop NGU again.
How is it passed on?
Anyone who has unprotected sex can catch NGU. NGU can be passed on through unprotected anal, vaginal and oral sex.
NGU may also be caused through:
- Inserting objects into the urethra can cause friction, potentially damaging the urethra.
- Bacteria that live in the urinary tract or the prostate gland can also lead to cystitis.
- Sensitivity to chemicals in spermicides, foams and creams
Men with multiple sexual partners without using condoms, and those with female partners with chlamydia or gonorrhoea are particularly at risk of NGU.
Symptoms
Symptoms of NGU are not always obvious and can be very mild. They usually occur within two to four weeks of unprotected sex, although they can appear much more quickly in some cases.
Common symptoms include:
- White or cloudy discharge from the tip of the penis – often most noticeable first thing in the morning
- Moistness of the tip of penis
- Blood in urine or semen
- Pain or a burning feeling when passing urine
- Itching or irritation or tenderness of penis
- Frequent or urgent urination
If you have any of the above symptoms, you should be checked at a GUM clinic.
How is NGU diagnosed?
Diagnosis of NGU can be made by microscopic examination of the urethral discharge in a GUM clinic. It will be advisable to hold your urine for an hour before attending the clinic so that the diagnosis is made accurately. Diagnosis is made on the day of your visit, and you will receive free treatment on the day.
What is the treatment for NGU?
Generally, a short course of antibiotics will treat NGU. These will be given once the diagnosis is made on microscopy of the urethral material.
Because most of the cases of NGU are sexually transmitted, it is important to treat partner(s) of patients with NGU too. Female partners of patients with NGU do not usually have symptoms. Not treating the sexual partners may result in recurrence of NGU.
What are the complications of untreated NGU?
Untreated NGU can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women and epididymo-orchitis in men. A small number of patients may develop reactive arthritis (inflammation and painful swelling of the joints). Untreated NGU can lead to premature delivery. NGU can be transmitted from mothers to their babies causing eye infection. NGU increases the risk of acquiring HIV infection if sexually exposed.
You can help protect yourself against NGU by using condoms every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex.
