Gonorrhea: Symptoms, Testing, and Safe Treatment Options

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection that can be silent or cause uncomfortable symptoms. You might have burning during urination, unusual discharge, sore throat, or no symptoms at all. Because it often hides, testing matters more than guessing.

Worried you might have been exposed? Get tested. The best test is a NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test) — it’s fast and reliable and works on urine or swabs from the genitals, throat, or rectum. Many clinics, community health centers, and some pharmacies offer testing. If you test positive, tell recent partners so they can get checked too.

What doctors usually prescribe

Current recommended treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhea is an injection of ceftriaxone 500 mg IM as a single dose (higher dose for people over 150 kg). That’s the preferred option because it still works well against most strains. If ceftriaxone isn’t available, oral cefixime 800 mg can be used as an alternative, but it’s less reliable—especially for throat infections.

Why the injection? Some gonorrhea strains resist older pills. Using the right drug the first time lowers chances of complications and further spread. Don’t try to treat gonorrhea with leftover pills or random antibiotics — that can make resistance worse and leave the infection untreated.

Follow-up, partners, and prevention

After treatment, avoid sex for 7 days and until all partners are treated. For throat infections or when an alternative regimen was used, your provider may recommend a test-of-cure about 1–2 weeks later. Even after successful treatment, experts suggest retesting about 3 months later because reinfection is common.

Condoms lower the risk but don’t eliminate it when not used correctly. Regular screening is smart if you have new or multiple partners. If you’re pregnant, get tested right away — untreated gonorrhea can harm pregnancy and the baby.

Thinking of buying antibiotics online? Be careful. Only use pharmacies that require a prescription, show clear contact details, and have good reviews. Our site has a guide on buying cefixime online safely, but the safest route is a licensed clinic visit so a provider can pick the right treatment for your situation.

Questions you can ask your provider: What treatment do you recommend for my infection site? Should I get a test-of-cure? When should I retest for reinfection? Clear answers here help protect your health and your partners.

If something feels off, don’t wait. Quick testing and proper treatment are the fastest ways to get back to normal and avoid problems later on.