What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In 2024, over 540,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported in the United States. It frequently occurs alongside chlamydia, so testing for both is often recommended.
It can infect the genitals, rectum, and throat, and is particularly prevalent among young people aged 15–24. Gonorrhea can affect both men and women and, if left untreated, can lead to serious health complications, including infertility and life-threatening conditions if it spreads to the blood or joints.
Symptoms & Causes
Gonorrhea often has no symptoms, especially in women, making it a silent infection that can cause significant health problems if not diagnosed and treated early. When symptoms do occur, they can vary between men and women and may take between 2 and 10 days after exposure to appear.
Gonorrhea symptoms in women
Women with gonorrhea may experience:
- Painful or burning sensation when urinating
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Vaginal bleeding between periods or after sex
- Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding (if infected through anal sex)
- Discomfort during bowel movements
Because the symptoms can be mild and resemble other conditions, such as bladder or vaginal infections, many women may not realize they have gonorrhea, which increases the risk of complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Gonorrhea symptoms in men
Men with gonorrhea may notice:
- A burning sensation when urinating
- A white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis
- Pain and swelling in one or both testicles (less common)
- Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding (if infected through anal sex)
- Discomfort during bowel movements
Although men are less likely than women to suffer severe complications, untreated gonorrhea can lead to epididymitis, a painful condition that may cause infertility.
Symptoms from rectal infections
Both men and women can develop rectal infections from gonorrhea, particularly through anal sex. Symptoms may include:
- Discharge from the rectum
- Anal itching and soreness
- Bleeding
- Painful bowel movements
These symptoms can be easily overlooked or mistaken for other conditions, so it’s important to seek testing if you suspect an infection.
How do you get gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is transmitted through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected partner. It can also be spread by sharing sex toys or through contact with infected bodily fluids.
The infection can be passed even when an infected person shows no symptoms. Pregnant women with gonorrhea can pass the infection to their baby during childbirth, potentially causing serious complications for the newborn, such as eye infections or pneumonia.
Testing & Treatment
Testing for gonorrhea
Gonorrhea can be diagnosed through a simple test. For most people, a urine sample is sufficient for diagnosis. However, if you have had oral or anal sex, your healthcare provider may also take swabs from the throat, rectum, or in some cases, from the cervix in women or the urethra in men.
Regular testing is recommended for sexually active individuals, especially those with new or multiple partners. Early detection is crucial to prevent the infection from leading to more severe health issues.
Treatment for gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is typically treated with antibiotics. However, some strains of gonorrhea have developed resistance to antibiotics, making treatment more challenging. It’s essential to take the full course of prescribed medication and follow your healthcare provider’s instructions closely. You should also inform all recent sexual partners so they can be tested and treated if necessary.
You should avoid sexual activity until seven days after completing the treatment and your symptoms have fully resolved. Retesting is recommended about three months after treatment, as reinfection is common, especially if your partner was not treated or if you continue to engage in high-risk sexual activities.
Untreated gonorrhea can lead to severe health problems. In women, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), leading to infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. In men, complications are less common but can include epididymitis, which may result in infertility. Rarely, untreated gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints, causing life-threatening conditions.
Telling your partner
If you have gonorrhea, you should tell your current partners and anyone else that you’ve had sex with in the last 6 months. They can have gonorrhea without knowing it, so they should get tested as well.
TellYourPartner.com helps you send an anonymous gonorrhea text, so you can let partners know they’ve had contact with an infection without revealing your name.