Not all men will get symptoms or notice that they have the infection.

Usually the signs and symptoms will occur within two – four weeks of contact with the infection. Although it can be within a day or two, or alternatively in mild cases it may be several months.

They may include:

• Difficulty having a wee, or pain, burning sensation whilst having a wee
• The feeling that you need to go for a wee frequently
• A white or cloudy discharge from the end of the penis, which is more noticeable first thing in the morning.
• Itching or irritation at the end of the urethra or a feeling/sensation down the tube.

You can only be certain if you have NSU by a test so don’t delay if you think you have an infection or may have been in contact with a sexually transmitted infection.

You may need to wait up to two weeks to be tested for certain infections, but the nurse/doctor can advise you about this.

Depending on you your specific signs or symptoms the test may involve

• Using a small swab (similar to a cotton bud) to collect a sample of the cells from the entrance to the urethra.
• A urine sample
• The nurse/doctor examining your penis

In most clinics the sample taken with the swab can be looked at under the microscope and you may be able to be told straight away if you have an infection, although it will take one to two weeks to know if the NSU has been caused by a sexually transmitted infection.

Tests taken within a sexual health clinic are treated confidentially, a unique clinic number being issued and used in place of a name for each person attending. Results can be accessed in whichever way most convenient, whether this is via text, email, telephone, mail, phoning into clinic or via another person (e.g. school nurse, friend).

NSU is treated with antibiotics, if your test in clinic shows that there is a high chance you have an infection then you will get these even before you find out what the cause is.

You may get a single dose of antibiotics or a longer course.

Most men find the pain when having a wee and the discharge improves fairly quickly, usually within a week.

Your current and possibly some past partners will also need testing /and or possible treatment.

You are asked to not have sex for a week to allow the treatment to work and your symptoms to settle. A health advisor will then give you a call to check if you were able to take the treatment correctly and answer any questions you may have.

If left untreated some causes of NSU can lead to long term consequences, although these are uncommon.

Problems can include:

• Infection in the testes causing pain
• Possible reduced fertility
• Pain and inflammation of the joints; known as reactive arthritis.
• NSU caused by Chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in your female sexual partner causing complications which is why it is really important they get tested and treated.
• It is important that recent sexual contacts are tested/ treated and the health advisors can help inform contacts anonymously if you feel unable to tell them.