Gonorrhea Treatment
Gonorrhea treatment is a short course of antibiotics that cures the infection in nearly all cases, but it must be started promptly and finished completely. The current standard is a single injection of ceftriaxone, usually combined with oral doxycycline, because gonorrhea has developed resistance to many older drugs. Symptoms usually improve within a few days, though you should avoid sex for seven days after treatment so the infection does not spread. Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease in women and epididymitis in men, so treatment should not be delayed. This guide covers how treatment works, what to expect afterward, and how to prevent reinfection.
How Gonorrhea Is Treated
The CDC recommends a single injection of ceftriaxone for gonorrhea, often given along with oral doxycycline to cover a possible chlamydia coinfection. This combination cures infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat, including strains that are harder to treat. Your clinician will choose the regimen based on current guidelines.
Take or receive the full treatment as directed, even if symptoms disappear quickly. Do not share antibiotics or use medication left over from a previous illness, since the wrong drug can fail to cure the infection and fuel resistance.
Why Prompt Treatment Matters
Treating gonorrhea quickly prevents complications and stops the infection from spreading. In women, untreated gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which may cause chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and fertility problems. In men, it can cause epididymitis, a painful inflammation of the sperm carrying tube.
Rarely, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and affect the joints or other organs. None of these outcomes are common, but all are avoidable with early testing and treatment, which is another reason routine screening matters.
What to Expect After Treatment
Most people feel better within a few days of treatment, and the infection is considered cured once the full course is complete. Avoid all sexual contact for seven days after treatment so the infection is not passed to a partner. Recent partners should be tested and treated too, even without symptoms.
The CDC recommends retesting about three months after treatment, since repeat infections are common. If symptoms continue after treatment, see a clinician for a follow up test rather than assuming the medication failed.
Preventing Reinfection
Condoms used correctly during vaginal, anal, and oral sex substantially lower the chance of gonorrhea. Having fewer partners and talking openly about testing also reduce risk. Treating partners at the same time prevents the back and forth cycle of reinfection.
Routine screening is recommended for people at higher risk, including sexually active women under 25 and men who have sex with men. A negative test after treatment is the clearest sign that you are clear and can resume your usual sexual health routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can gonorrhea be cured with antibiotics?
Yes. Gonorrhea is cured with a single injection of ceftriaxone, often combined with oral doxycycline. The infection clears completely when the full treatment is given. Avoid sex for seven days afterward and retest about three months later.
How long does gonorrhea treatment take to work?
Symptoms usually improve within a few days of treatment, and the infection is considered cured once the full course is complete. You should avoid sex for seven days after treatment to prevent passing the infection to a partner.
What happens if gonorrhea is not treated?
Untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which may lead to chronic pain and fertility problems, and epididymitis in men. Rarely it spreads to the blood and joints. Prompt treatment prevents these complications.
Can you get gonorrhea again after treatment?
Yes. Treatment cures the current infection but does not protect you from future exposure. If a partner is not treated, you can be reinfected. Retesting about three months later and using condoms reduce the risk.
Sources
- CDC. Gonorrhea treatment guidelines. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/gonorrhea.htm
- CDC. Gonorrhea basic fact sheet. https://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/stdfact-gonorrhea.htm
- MedlinePlus. Gonorrhea. https://medlineplus.gov/gonorrhea.html
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