gonorrhea

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What you need to know

Gonorrhea is an infection you can get from having sex with someone who is already infected.
Many people will not have symptoms. If you think you were exposed, there is medicine you can take within 72 hours to prevent infection.
Protect yourself by using condoms and only having sex with a partner who has tested negative.
Regular testing is recommended to identify the infection early. If untreated, it can lead to serious health problems.
Gonorrhea is curable with antibiotics, but you can get it more than once.

Gonorrhea basics

What is gonorrhea and how do you get it?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Gonorrhea causes infection in the genitals, rectum, and throat. You can get gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection. You can still get gonorrhea even if your sex partner does not ejaculate (cum). An infected pregnant person can give it to their baby during childbirth.

What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?

Many people with gonorrhea, especially people with a vagina, do not have any symptoms.

See a health care provider if you have these symptoms.

When a person with a vagina has symptoms, they are often mild. They can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Symptoms can include:

Painful or burning sensation when peeing
Increased or abnormal vaginal discharge
Vaginal bleeding between periods

People with penises may experience:

A burning sensation when peeing
A white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis
Painful or swollen testicles (less common)

People can also get gonorrhea in their rectum. This happens by receiving anal sex. Or it can spread from another infected site, like the vagina. If symptoms occur, they can include:

Discharge
Itching in or around the anus
Soreness
Bleeding
Painful bowel movements
Sensation to have frequent bowel movements

Throat infections usually do not have symptoms, but may cause:

Sore throat
Swollen tonsils
Swollen lymph nodes

If gonorrhea is left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems.

For any person, a gonorrhea infection:

May increase chances of getting or giving HIV
Can cause a rare condition called disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). The infection spreads through your blood to your joints, skin, heart or brain. This is a serious condition that can lead to death.

In people with a vagina, untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Some of the complications of PID are:

Scar tissue that blocks fallopian tubes
Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb)
Infertility (not being able to get pregnant)
Long-term pelvic/abdominal pain

In people with a penis, an infection can cause a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles. This can, in rare cases, lead to infertility.
Pregnant people with gonorrhea can pass the infection to their newborn. The infant may develop the following within a few days after delivery:

Sepsis (full body infection)
Meningitis (infection around the brain)
Eye infections

How do I avoid getting gonorrhea?

If you are sexually active, lower your chances of getting gonorrhea:

Have sex only with a partner(s) who has been tested and does not have gonorrhea.
Use condoms every time you have sex.
You can still get gonorrhea even if your sex partner does not ejaculate (cum). Ask your health care provider about doxy PEP. It is a medication you take within 72 hours of having sex. It can reduce your risk of infection from gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis.
See a provider if your partner has an STI or symptoms of one. Symptoms can include:

An unusual sore
Smelly discharge
Burning when peeing
Bleeding between periods

Who is most affected by gonorrhea?

Some people may be more likely to become infected with gonorrhea, including young people 15–24 years old.

If you are sexually active, ask your health care provider if you should get tested for gonorrhea or other STIs.

It’s important for these groups to get regular testing

Gay or bisexual cisgender men. Get tested for gonorrhea at least once per year.
Cisgender women. Get tested for gonorrhea every year if you are:

younger than 25 years old
25 years of age or older with risk factors, such as:

New or multiple sex partners
You have sex partner who has an STI

Pregnant people: Get tested at your first prenatal visit. Test again at the third trimester if any of the following is true:

You are younger than 25 years of age
You have new or multiple sexual partners
You or your partner have another STI

What if I get gonorrhea?

Treatment

Treatment is usually one antibiotic shot. If you are given pills, it is important you take all the medicine to cure your infection. Medicine will not undo any permanent damage caused by the disease. Let your provider know if your symptoms last more than three days after treatment begins.

Testing

Even if you had gonorrhea before, you can get it again. Regular testing is the best way to identify infection early. Early treatment can prevent complications. Ask your health care provider how often you should be tested.