Gonorrhea: Symptoms, Testing, Treatment, and Prevention
Gonorrhea can be sneaky — many people never notice symptoms. That’s why testing matters if you’re sexually active or had a recent exposure. This page gives clear, practical steps: how to spot it, how it’s diagnosed, what doctors use to treat it now, and how to avoid getting it again.
Men often feel burning when peeing and see a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Women may have increased vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, or pain when peeing, but many women have no symptoms. Throat and rectal infections are common and usually don’t hurt — they can still spread to others and cause complications.
How testing and diagnosis work
Most clinics use NAAT tests (nucleic acid amplification tests). That’s usually a urine test or a swab from the infected site — throat, rectum, vagina, or urethra. NAATs are sensitive and fast. If you think you were exposed, go get tested right away if you have symptoms. If you’re asymptomatic after a known exposure, check with your clinic — many recommend testing 1–2 weeks after exposure, or sooner if symptoms appear.
If you’re pregnant, get tested early. Untreated gonorrhea in pregnancy can cause problems for you and the baby. Also ask about testing for other STIs, because co-infections like chlamydia are common.
Treatment and antibiotic resistance
Current recommended treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhea is a single injection of ceftriaxone (dose adjusted by body weight). If chlamydia hasn’t been ruled out, your provider usually prescribes doxycycline for 7 days as well. Follow your clinician’s instructions exactly and finish any pills you’re given.
Antibiotic resistance is a real problem with gonorrhea. That’s why clinics use specific injectable antibiotics now and why follow-up matters. For throat infections, your doctor may ask for a test of cure about 2 weeks after treatment because pharyngeal gonorrhea is harder to clear. Don’t have sex until seven days after treatment and only if all partners have been treated or cleared.
Tell recent partners so they can get tested and treated. Many health departments offer partner notification services. Some areas allow clinicians to provide medication or a prescription for partners — ask your clinic what they offer.
Prevention is straightforward: use condoms for oral, vaginal, and anal sex; limit the number of partners; and get routine STI screening if you’re sexually active. There’s no vaccine for gonorrhea yet, so testing and safe sex are your best tools.
If you have heavy pelvic pain, fever, unusual bleeding, painful urination, or symptoms that get worse, see a clinician right away. Re-testing about three months after treatment is commonly recommended to check for reinfection. Honest talk with your provider will get you the right tests and the right treatment fast.
