Gonorrhea is primarily spread through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has it. It can also be transmitted from a pregnant person to their baby during childbirth.

If you have any of the following symptoms, contact us to get tested. The symptoms of gonorrhea can vary and sometimes may not appear at all. When symptoms do occur, they typically appear within 2 to 14 days after exposure.

In Men:

• Painful urination
• Pus-like discharge from the penis
• Swelling or pain in one testicle

In Women:

• Increased vaginal discharge
• Painful urination
• Vaginal bleeding between periods
• Abdominal or pelvic pain

Rectal Infections (Men and Women):

• Discharge
• Anal itching
• Soreness
• Bleeding
• Painful bowel movements

Throat Infections:

• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodes

Gonorrhea will not go away on its own. Yes, the right treatment can cure gonorrhea. It is important that you take all of the medicine your healthcare provider gives you to cure your infection. Do not share medicine for gonorrhea with anyone. Although medicine will stop the infection, it will not undo any permanent damage caused by the disease.

It is becoming harder to treat some gonorrhea as drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea are increasing. If your symptoms continue for more than a few days after receiving treatment, let us know.

After treatment, it is crucial to inform all sexual partners so they can also get tested and treated if necessary. Wait seven days after finishing all medicine before having sex. You and your sex partner(s) should avoid having sex until your symptoms are gone. This will help prevent you and your partner(s) from giving or getting gonorrhea again. Those with gonorrhea should be retested about three months after treatment of an initial infection, even if their partners received successful treatment.

If you’ve had gonorrhea and took medicine in the past, you can still get it again. This happens if you have sex without a condom with a person who has gonorrhea.

Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems.

In women, untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Some of the complications of PID are:

• Infertility (not being able to get pregnant); and
• Long-term pelvic/abdominal pain.

In men, gonorrhea can cause a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles, which can, in rare cases, lead to infertility.

• Rarely, untreated gonorrhea can also spread to your blood or joints. This condition can be life-threatening.
• Untreated gonorrhea may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV.