Gonorrhea Testing & Treatment

Symptoms vary by sex and site of infection, and many cases — especially in women — cause no symptoms at all despite still being contagious.

• Burning during urination
• Thick, often yellow or green discharge
• Testicular pain or swelling in men
• Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding, if the infection is rectal
• Sore throat, if the infection is oral — often symptom-free

Gonorrhea spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. It commonly occurs alongside chlamydia, which is why providers frequently test for both together.

A urine test or swab (vaginal, rectal, or throat depending on exposure) confirms gonorrhea. Site-specific swabs matter here — a urine test alone won't catch a throat or rectal infection.

Current treatment is a single injection of ceftriaxone. Older oral options, including azithromycin and ciprofloxacin, are largely no longer recommended on their own due to antibiotic resistance — see our guides on azithromycin and ciprofloxacin for more on why this shifted. Symptoms should clear within about a week; if they don't, retesting is important. Avoid sex for seven days after treatment, and make sure partners are treated too.

Untreated gonorrhea can spread to the joints, eyes, brain, or heart, and can cause PID, infertility, and epididymitis. It also increases HIV risk. Gonorrhea affecting the eyes is covered in our gonococcal conjunctivitis guide.

Is gonorrhea becoming harder to treat?

Yes — antibiotic resistance is a real and growing concern, which is why treatment guidelines have shifted toward ceftriaxone specifically in recent years.

How soon should I tell past partners?

Experts generally recommend notifying anyone you've had sex with in the past 60 days, or your most recent partner if it's been longer.