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Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Untreated gonorrhea can cause severe complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, and infertility. Treatment is available to cure a gonorrhea infection.
Gonorrhea is an STI spread by sexual contact with the penis, vagina, or mouth.
If you are pregnant, gonorrhea can be passed to your baby as it is born. Babies born to mothers with gonorrhea can have blindness, joint infections, or life-threatening blood infections.
Untreated gonorrhea can cause severe complications. For women, complications include PID, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain.
For men, possible complications are epididymitis – swelling or pain in the back of the testicle in the tube (epididymis) that stores and carries sperm and infertility.
In both women and men, gonorrhea causes an increased risk of HIV – the virus that causes AIDs. The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can travel in your blood and infect joints and other body areas.
Gonorrhea often has no symptoms. However, symptoms may be present and mistaken for other health conditions.
Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea
Most people with gonorrhea have no symptoms (asymptomatic), or they have symptoms and attribute them to a bladder or vaginal infection.
Symptoms can appear between one and fourteen days after exposure.
If you develop any of these signs or symptoms, see an HCP as soon as possible.
Painful, burning, or frequent urination
Vaginal or penile discharge
Testicle swelling
Red or swollen urethra (opening of the penis) in men
Vaginal bleeding between periods
Vaginal bleeding after sex
Lower abdominal pain in women
Rectal discharge
Rectal itching
Rectal bleeding
Sore throat
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Conjunctivitis (discharge from one or both eyes)
Sensitivity to light
Eye pain
Warm, red, swollen, painful joints
Gonorrhea can be cured. Take care of your sexual health by seeing your HCP for testing, diagnosis, and treatment to decrease the chances of developing severe complications.
It's recommended you take testing for gonorrhea if you are sexually active. There are other behaviors that may increase your risk. Openly discuss your sexual health with your HCP so that any testing you need is completed at your visit. The only way to know if you have an STI is to get tested.
Visit health clinic and get tested if:
You are pregnant.
You are sexually active.
Your partner has tested positive for gonorrhea.
Your HCP suggests it.
If you test positive for gonorrhea, antibiotics can cure your infection.
How is gonorrhea treated?
Gonorrhea can be cured with the right antibiotics. Take all the medication prescribed and follow all the directions from your health center.
Antibiotics can cure an infection from gonorrhea but will not repair any damage already done to your body. Getting immediate treatment as soon as you test positive is urgent so you can be cured and will not pass gonorrhea to anyone else.
Adults with gonorrhea are cured with an antibiotic called ceftriaxone. Usually, the treatment is a one-dose option. If you are allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics, your HCP will prescribe an alternative. After treatment, do not have sex until your treatment is complete and all your symptoms have disappeared.
Gonorrhea treatment for partners
You need to inform any partners of your diagnosis since they will need to get tested and, if positive, treated for their gonorrhea infection. Your HCP can help you prepare for the conversation with your partner if you feel anxious about it.
Remember, even after treatment, you can get reinfected with gonorrhea by having sexual contact with an infected partner.
"“A person with gonorrhea and all of his or her sex partners must avoid having sex until they have completed their treatment for gonorrhea and until they no longer have symptoms.”"
Ways to decrease your risk of getting infected with gonorrhea:
Have sex with only one partner in a mutually monogamous relationship – you only have sex with each other, and you both have tested negative.
Use new latex condoms correctly every time you have sex.
Wait before you have sex with a new partner until you both have tested negative.
If you decide to be sexually active, take every step to decrease your risk of getting infected with gonorrhea or other STIs. Good sexual health is necessary for your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Untreated gonorrhea can cause severe complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, and infertility. Treatment is available to cure a gonorrhea infection.
Gonorrhea is an STI spread by sexual contact with the penis, vagina, or mouth.
If you are pregnant, gonorrhea can be passed to your baby as it is born. Babies born to mothers with gonorrhea can have blindness, joint infections, or life-threatening blood infections.
Untreated gonorrhea can cause severe complications. For women, complications include PID, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain.
For men, possible complications are epididymitis – swelling or pain in the back of the testicle in the tube (epididymis) that stores and carries sperm and infertility.
In both women and men, gonorrhea causes an increased risk of HIV – the virus that causes AIDs. The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can travel in your blood and infect joints and other body areas.
Gonorrhea often has no symptoms. However, symptoms may be present and mistaken for other health conditions.
Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea
Most people with gonorrhea have no symptoms (asymptomatic), or they have symptoms and attribute them to a bladder or vaginal infection.
Symptoms can appear between one and fourteen days after exposure.
If you develop any of these signs or symptoms, see an HCP as soon as possible.
Painful, burning, or frequent urination
Vaginal or penile discharge
Testicle swelling
Red or swollen urethra (opening of the penis) in men
Vaginal bleeding between periods
Vaginal bleeding after sex
Lower abdominal pain in women
Rectal discharge
Rectal itching
Rectal bleeding
Sore throat
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Conjunctivitis (discharge from one or both eyes)
Sensitivity to light
Eye pain
Warm, red, swollen, painful joints
Gonorrhea can be cured. Take care of your sexual health by seeing your HCP for testing, diagnosis, and treatment to decrease the chances of developing severe complications.
It's recommended you take testing for gonorrhea if you are sexually active. There are other behaviors that may increase your risk. Openly discuss your sexual health with your HCP so that any testing you need is completed at your visit. The only way to know if you have an STI is to get tested.
Visit health clinic and get tested if:
You are pregnant.
You are sexually active.
Your partner has tested positive for gonorrhea.
Your HCP suggests it.
If you test positive for gonorrhea, antibiotics can cure your infection.
How is gonorrhea treated?
Gonorrhea can be cured with the right antibiotics. Take all the medication prescribed and follow all the directions from your health center.
Antibiotics can cure an infection from gonorrhea but will not repair any damage already done to your body. Getting immediate treatment as soon as you test positive is urgent so you can be cured and will not pass gonorrhea to anyone else.
Adults with gonorrhea are cured with an antibiotic called ceftriaxone. Usually, the treatment is a one-dose option. If you are allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics, your HCP will prescribe an alternative. After treatment, do not have sex until your treatment is complete and all your symptoms have disappeared.
Gonorrhea treatment for partners
You need to inform any partners of your diagnosis since they will need to get tested and, if positive, treated for their gonorrhea infection. Your HCP can help you prepare for the conversation with your partner if you feel anxious about it.
Remember, even after treatment, you can get reinfected with gonorrhea by having sexual contact with an infected partner.
"“A person with gonorrhea and all of his or her sex partners must avoid having sex until they have completed their treatment for gonorrhea and until they no longer have symptoms.”"
Ways to decrease your risk of getting infected with gonorrhea:
Have sex with only one partner in a mutually monogamous relationship – you only have sex with each other, and you both have tested negative.
Use new latex condoms correctly every time you have sex.
Wait before you have sex with a new partner until you both have tested negative.
If you decide to be sexually active, take every step to decrease your risk of getting infected with gonorrhea or other STIs. Good sexual health is necessary for your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
