Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria. It is the second most frequently reported STI. Only cases that are laboratory confirmed are reported. Transmission occurs primarily through sexual contact. People at higher risk of infection include sexually active youth and young adults, those with multiple partners, and men who have sex with men.
Symptoms can include discharge, painful urination, abdominal pain, and pain during intercourse. Many people with gonorrhea infection do not experience any symptoms but can still pass the infection to others, and as such, gonorrhea infections are likely under-reported.
Early detection and prompt treatment are key to preventing the spread of infection. Urine-based testing has increased the accessibility and ease of testing, however testing methods will depend on symptoms. Testing is free of charge and can be accessed through a health care provider, sexual health clinic or community health centre.
Gonorrhea cases by geographic area
Key findings:
- In the SDHU area, there were 70 confirmed cases of gonorrhea in 2015.
- In 2015, the rate of gonorrhea in the SDHU area was 36 per 100,000 population.
- The rate of gonorrhea in the SDHU area has been lower than the rate in northeastern Ontario, while the rate in both the SDHU area and northeastern Ontario have been lower than that of Ontario for most years with some fluctuations.
- Between 2006 and 2013, there was no clear trend in the rate of gonorrhea in the SDHU area. However, the rate increased in the last two years.
Notes:
- Rates are age-standardized using 2011 Canadian population.
- Data Source: Infectious Diseases Query, Public Health Ontario, Extracted Feb. 2016, and Population Estimates and Projections, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Extracted Sep. 2015.
Figure: Age-standardized rate, gonorrhea, by geographic area, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
Table: Age-standardized rate, gonorrhea, by geographic area, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
| Geographic Region | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDHU | 9.3 | 19.1 | 16.0 | 17.1 | 17.3 | 14.8 | 13.4 | 12.1 | 27.3 | 36.2 |
| Northeast | 9.7 | 16.9 | 19.3 | 34.1 | 28.8 | 22.8 | 16.9 | 19.4 | 20.5 | 41.3 |
| Ontario | 28.7 | 29.6 | 28.7 | 26.2 | 29.1 | 30.6 | 29.5 | 32.5 | 41.6 | 41.9 |
Table: Annual number of cases of gonorrhea, by geographic area, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
| Geographic Region | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDHU | 18 | 38 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 29 | 26 | 24 | 53 | 70 |
| Northeast | 53 | 93 | 106 | 185 | 155 | 122 | 89 | 103 | 108 | 214 |
| Ontario | 3842 | 3961 | 3861 | 3545 | 3966 | 4202 | 4094 | 4536 | 5829 | 5909 |
Gonorrhea cases by sex
Key findings:
- Between 2011 and 2015, there were a total of 95 males and 107 females diagnosed with gonorrhea in the SDHU area, an average of 19 males and 21 females per year.
- In the SDHU area, the annual rate of gonorrhea between 2011 and 2015 was 19 per 100,000 males and 22 per 100,000 females.
- The rate of gonorrhea among females has been slightly higher than the rate among males.
- Between the time periods 2006–2010 and 2011–2015, the rates of gonorrhea has increased for both males and females in the SDHU area.
Notes:
- Rates are age-standardized using 2011 Canadian population.
- Data Source: Infectious Diseases Query, Public Health Ontario, Extracted Feb. 2016, and Population Estimates and Projections, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Extracted Sep. 2015.
Figure: Age-standardized rate, gonorrhea, by sex, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
Table: Age-standardized rate, gonorrhea, by sex, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
| Sex | Rate per 100,000 2006-2010 | Rate per 100,000 2011-2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Males | 14.0 | 19.3 |
| Females | 17.5 | 22.2 |
Table: Annual number of cases of gonorrhea, by sex, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
| Sex | Total Counts 2006-2010 | Total Counts 2011-2015 | Average Annual Counts 2006-2010 | Average Annual Counts 2011-2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 69 | 95 | 13.8 | 19.0 |
| Females | 87 | 107 | 17.4 | 21.4 |
Gonorrhea cases by age group
Key findings:
- Between 2011 and 2015, the highest number of gonorrhea cases was in the 20 to 24 age group, with a total of 76 cases or an average of 15 per year in the SDHU area.
- In the SDHU area, the highest annual rate of gonorrhea was in the 20 to 24 age group, with 114 cases per 100,000 population between 2011 and 2015.
- The rate of gonorrhea is highest in the younger age groups and lower in ages 30 and over.
- Between the time periods 2006–2010 and 2011–2015, the rate of gonorrhea has increased in all age groups except ages 15 to 19 where there was a decrease.
Notes:
- Data Source: Infectious Diseases Query, Public Health Ontario, Extracted Feb. 2016, and Population Estimates and Projections, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Extracted Sep. 2015.
Figure: Gonorrhea, by age group, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
Table: Rate of gonorrhea, by age group, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
| Age Group | Rate per 100,000 2006-2010 | Rate per 100,000 2011-2015 |
|---|---|---|
| 15-19 | 57.5 | 46.8 |
| 20-24 | 102.8 | 114.1 |
| 25-29 | 48.1 | 62.1 |
| 30+ | 3.1 | 8.9 |
Table: Annual number of cases of gonorrhea, by age group, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
| Age Group | Total Counts 2006-2010 | Total Counts 2011-2015 | Average Annual Counts 2006-2010 | Average Annual Counts 2011-2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-19 | 39 | 29 | 7.8 | 5.8 |
| 20-24 | 67 | 76 | 13.4 | 15.2 |
| 25-29 | 29 | 38 | 5.8 | 7.6 |
| 30+ | 20 | 59 | 4.0 | 11.8 |
This item was last modified on June 2, 2022