An untreatable strong new strain of gonorrhoea causing concerns in Auckland has not made its way to the Bay of Plenty.

The New Zealand Sexual Health Society says gonorrhoea is well-known for developing antibiotic resistance and many treatments once used were now ineffective.

If people are concerned that they may have a sexually transmitted disease, they are advised to go to their GP for a check-up.

'While no cases of treatment failure have been reported in New Zealand, gonorrhoea strains with decreased susceptibility to the one effective antibiotic treatment remaining have been identified in the Auckland region,” the society said in a statement earlier this week.

"There are no new treatment options on the horizon."

The Tauranga Sexual Health Clinic – Clinic 2 sees about 600 patients per month.

Of those less than 10 will have gonorrhoea and to date none of them have had multi-resistant gonorrhoea, says Bay of Plenty District sexual health team leader Dr Lorna Claydon.

The STI (sexually transmitted infections) prevalence statistics are publically available through ESR (The Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd) STI surveillance quarterly reports.

Lorna says the results for the BOP region show chlamydia is far more prevalent than gonorrhoea.

'Rates of gonorrhoea have decreased slightly in Tauranga since testing was made easier with a new type of test. This means that most men can get a gonorrhoea test on a urine sample and women may be able to take their own samples without the need for an internal examination.

'Gonorrhoea antibiotic resistance is being monitored and about half of gonorrhoea in Tauranga is resistant to ciprofloxacin which has previously been the mainstay of treatment. We currently treat with ceftriaxone and closely monitor resistance.

'As far as I know there have been no known cases of multi-resistant gonorrhoea in New Zealand so far. However with high levels of population movement between New Zealand and Australia this may well change in the future.”

Gonorrhoea is passed on by unprotected sex and can be avoided by using condoms and getting regular STI checks if you have had a change of partner.

Lorna says anyone with concerns can get a free check-up at the sexual health clinic, Clinic 2, which is located on the corner of 17th Ave and Cameron Road, Tauranga.

'It is open weekdays 9am-4pm. You can also get checks at family planning clinics and through your GP.”