What Is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a common bacterial sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It infects the urethra, cervix, rectum, throat, and eyes, and it spreads through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Many people with gonorrhea have no symptoms, so the infection can go unnoticed for months. Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease in women and infertility in both men and women. The infection is also becoming harder to treat because some strains resist antibiotics, which is why testing and early treatment matter. This guide explains gonorrhea symptoms, how it spreads, how testing works, treatment options, and prevention.

Symptoms

Gonorrhea often causes no symptoms, especially in women. When symptoms appear, they typically start within two to fourteen days after exposure. Women may notice increased vaginal discharge, pain or burning when urinating, or bleeding between periods. Men may see a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis, burning during urination, or painful, swollen testicles.

Gonorrhea can also infect the rectum, causing discharge, itching, soreness, or bleeding, and the throat, which usually produces no symptoms at all. Because silent infections are so common, regular testing is the only way to know your status.

How It Spreads

Gonorrhea spreads through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. It can also pass from a pregnant person to their baby during delivery, which can cause a serious eye infection in newborns. That is why routine prenatal screening is standard.

The bacteria survive in semen, vaginal fluid, and discharge from the penis or cervix. Using condoms and dental dams correctly and consistently greatly reduces the risk. If you test positive, your partners need testing and treatment too, or you can pass the infection back and forth.

Testing

Gonorrhea testing uses the same methods as chlamydia testing. A urine test is the most common option and works well for infections of the urethra and cervix. Swabs are used for rectal, throat, or eye infections, and some clinics offer self-collected swabs. Labs look for the bacteria's genetic material using NAAT, which is highly accurate.

Wait at least one to two weeks after possible exposure before testing so the bacteria reach detectable levels. Testing too soon can miss the infection. Early detection matters because gonorrhea is curable, but delays can lead to complications like pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

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Treatment and Cure

Gonorrhea is curable with antibiotics, but treatment has become more complex because some strains resist older drugs. Current guidelines recommend a single injection of ceftriaxone, often combined with an oral antibiotic. You should finish the full course and avoid sex for seven days after treatment.

Untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility in women, and epididymitis in men. It can also spread to the blood or joints in rare cases. Because re-infection is common, the CDC recommends retesting three months after treatment.

Prevention

Condoms used correctly during vaginal, anal, and oral sex are the best protection against gonorrhea. Regular screening is also key, since most infections cause no symptoms. The CDC recommends yearly gonorrhea testing for sexually active women under 25 and for anyone with new or multiple partners.

Talk with partners about testing before sex, and if you test positive, let recent partners know so they can be treated. Avoid sex until treatment is complete. Routine testing protects your health and helps slow the spread of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.