
Medication
What can be done to prevent the spread of gonorrhea?
- Limit the number of your sex partners.
- Use a male or female condom.
- If you think you are infected, avoid any sexual contact and visit a local sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic, hospital or your doctor.
- Notify all sexual contacts immediately so that they can be examined and treated by a health care provider.
Self-care
Is gonorrhea 100 percent curable? Yes, gonorrhea can be cured with the right treatment. It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection.
Nutrition
- For persons weighing ≥150 kg (300 lb), 1 g of IM ceftriaxone should be administered.
- If chlamydia coinfection is identified when pharyngeal gonorrhea testing is performed, providers should treat for chlamydia with doxycycline 100 mg orally twice a day for 7 days. ...
- No reliable alternative treatments are available for pharyngeal gonorrhea. ...
How long does it take to cure gonorrhea?
Make a list of:
- Your symptoms, if you have any, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment, and when they began
- All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take, including doses
- Questions to ask your doctor
Is gonorrhea 100 percent curable?
What is the first line treatment for gonorrhea?
What is the best medication for gonorrhea?

How long after treatment does gonorrhea go away?
It's sometimes possible to have an antibiotic tablet instead of an injection, if you prefer. If you have any symptoms of gonorrhoea, these will usually improve within a few days, although it may take up to 2 weeks for any pain in your pelvis or testicles to disappear completely.
How do I know if my gonorrhea is cured?
A test-of-cure – follow-up testing to be sure the infection was treated successfully – is not needed for genital and rectal infections; however, if a person's symptoms continue for more than a few days after receiving treatment, he or she should return to a health care provider to be reevaluated.
How long does it take for the gonorrhea shot to work?
Any discharge you might have from your vagina will usually be yellowish or bloody and any discharge you might have from your penis will look yellowish, white, or green. Once your nurse or doctor prescribes you antibiotics to treat your gonorrhea infection, it can take up to 7 days to fully work.
What happens if you don't wait 7 days after treatment for gonorrhea?
If you're taking medicine for 7 days, don't have sex until you've finished all of your pills. And get tested again in 3 months to make sure the STD is gone.
How Can I Reduce My Risk of Getting Gonorrhea?
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chan...
Am I at Risk For Gonorrhea?
Any sexually active person can get gonorrhea through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex.If you are sexually active, have an honest and open tal...
I’M pregnant. How Does Gonorrhea Affect My Baby?
If you are pregnant(https://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/stdfact-pregnancy.htm) and have gonorrhea, you can give the infection to your baby during del...
How Do I Know If I Have Gonorrhea?
Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, men who do have symptoms, may have: 1. A burning sensation when urinating; 2. A white...
How Will My Doctor Know If I Have Gonorrhea?
Most of the time, urine can be used to test for gonorrhea. However, if you have had oral and/or anal sex, swabs may be used to collect samples from...
I was Treated For Gonorrhea. When Can I Have Sex Again?
You should wait seven days after finishing all medications before having sex. To avoid getting infected with gonorrhea again or spreading gonorrhea...
What Happens If I Don’T Get Treated?
Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both women and men.In women, untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammato...
Where Can I Get More Information?
STD information and referrals to STD ClinicsCDC-INFO1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)TTY: 1-888-232-6348In English, en Español
Why is it important to talk to your doctor about gonorrhea?
If you are pregnant, it is important that you talk to your health care provider so that you get the correct examination, testing, and treatment, as necessary. Treating gonorrhea as soon as possible will make health complications for your baby less likely.
What is gonorrhea in women?
What is gonorrhea? Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can infect both men and women. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is a very common infection, especially among young people ages 15-24 years.
How to avoid STDs?
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting gonorrhea: Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results;
What are the symptoms of a STD?
You should be examined by your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms or if your partner has an STD or symptoms of an STD, such as an unusual sore, a smelly discharge, burning when urinating, or bleeding between periods.
Can you get gonorrhea from sex?
Any sexually active person can get gonorrhea through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, have an honest and open talk with your health care provider and ask whether you should be tested for gonorrhea or other STDs.
Can you take medication for gonorrhea?
It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection. Medication for gonorrhea should not be shared with anyone. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not undo any permanent damage caused by the disease.
Can you use a urine swab for gonorrhea?
Most of the time, urine can be used to test for gonorrhea. However, if you have had oral and/or anal sex, swabs may be used to collect samples from your throat and/or rectum. In some cases, a swab may be used to collect a sample from a man’s urethra (urine canal) or a woman’s cervix (opening to the womb).
What to do if you have a STD?
If you've been treated for an STD and don't want to get another one, the best thing that you can do is change your behaviors to decrease your risk. That means consistently practicing safe sex and always talking to new partners about STD risk before having sex.
How to prevent STDs?
Fortunately, most of the STDs that are curable with antibiotics are also preventable by practicing safe sex. Using condoms, dental dams, and other barriers to make your sex life safer is an effective way to prevent bacterial STDs. However, it's important to use them consistently—for vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse.
Is it too late to start a STD test?
STDs aren't necessarily transmitted every time you have sex, so it's never too late to start doing things more safely. The Best At-Home STD Tests.
Can chlamydia come back after treatment?
Research using animal models suggests that chlamydia may be able to hide out in the gut and re-emerge, which could be another reason why chlamydia can come back after treatment. 1 .
Can you get a STD back?
While it's important that you find treatment for your STD, having your STD treated is not a guarantee that it will never come back. You have to use your medication as directed, and you also have to be careful about prevention so you won't get re-infected. Verywell / Cindy Chung.
Can you treat gonorrhea with antibiotics?
Gonorrhea is treatable with antibiotics, but antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea is starting to become a public health crisis. You may need to have your infection tested for susceptibility to treatment or come back after treatment to see if it worked.
Can you take antibiotics before you get a STD?
If your provider prescribes an antibiotic for you, it's important that you take your whole prescription. That's true even if you feel better before you're done. Failing to finish your antibiotic course as directed might keep your STD from being cured and it might also make it far more difficult to treat your STD next time due to antibiotic resistance.
How long does it take to get relief from gonorrhea?
Once on antibiotics, you should feel relief within days. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhea is a growing challenge. These cases may require more extensive treatment, with a seven-day course of an oral antibiotic or dual therapy with two different antibiotics, usually for a total of seven days of therapy.
When to make an appointment for gonorrhea?
Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any troubling signs or symptoms, such as a burning sensation when you urinate or a plus-like discharge from your penis, vagina or rectum. Also make an appointment with your doctor if your partner has been diagnosed with gonorrhea.
What is the most common cause of gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is an infection caused by a sexually transmitted bacterium that can infect both males and females. Gonorrhea most often affects the urethra, rectum or throat. In females, gonorrhea can also infect the cervix. Gonorrhea is most commonly spread during sex. But babies can be infected during childbirth if their mothers are infected.
How long does it take for a symtom to disappear?
After treatment you should see your symptoms slowly start to improve, if you experienced any. Symptoms normally disappear within a week of treatment, if you are still experiencing symptoms than you should consult the clinic where you received treatment for further advice.
Can you infect your partner if you have gonorrhea?
But without treatment, you can infect your partner even after he or she has been treated for gonorrhea.
Can you take over the counter medication for gonorrhea?
There are no at-home remedies or over-the-counter medications that will treat an infection with gonorrhea. If you suspect that you have gonorrhea, you should seek care from a healthcare professional.
Can gonorrhea be transmitted by a condom?
In babies, gonorrhea most commonly affects the eyes. The trick is that you may not even know that you're infected. Abstaining from sex, using a condom if you do have sex and being in a mutually monogamous relationship are the best ways to prevent sexually transmitted infections.
How long does it take for gonorrhea to show up in urine?
A urine test to check for any bacteria (specifically gonorrhea) Test results are usually available in 24 hours to three days.
What antibiotics are used for gonorrhea?
Another class of antibiotics commonly used to treat gonorrhea are macrolide antibiotics, specifically azithromycin (brand name Zithromax). Macrolides work by stopping the growth of bacteria. Taken as a tablet along with a ceftriaxone injection, a single dose is often all that is required to treat gonorrhea. If you vomit within an hour of taking your azithromycin tablet, contact your doctor immediately to determine if you require another dose. Like all drugs, there is the risk of side effects. Some side effects include, but are not limited to, nausea, headache, and diarrhea. More severe side effects can include rash, swelling, or vomiting. If you experience any of these or other side effects after taking this medication, seek out medical help immediately.
What is the best antibiotic for gonorrhea?
Cephalosporins are part of a class of antibiotics called beta-lactams that kill bacteria. Ceftriaxone, commonly known by its brand name Rocephin, is the most commonly used drug in this class to treat gonorrhea. Usually taken as a single dose, a doctor will inject it either into a vein (IV) or large muscle (IM) like the buttock. Some side effects include tenderness at the injection site, shortness of breath, diarrhea, rash, nausea, or vomiting. If you experience any of these side effects or otherwise do not feel well after taking ceftriaxone, contact a doctor immediately.
Can gonorrhea be cured?
This sexually transmitted disease can be cured with antibiotics. The most common treatment is a single antibiotic injection of ceftriaxone and a single dose of oral azithromycin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) treatment guidelines.
Does ceftriaxone cause shortness of breath?
Some side effects include tenderness at the injection site, shortness of breath, diarrhea, rash, nausea, or vomiting. If you experience any of these side effects or otherwise do not feel well after taking ceftriaxone, contact a doctor immediately. Up until 2012, cephalosporin was prescribed orally for gonorrhea.
Can antibiotics cause shortness of breath?
Shortness of breath or trouble breathing. This is not a full list of all potential side effects. You should always speak to a healthcare professional about the risks before starting a new medication. If you think you may be experiencing side effects from your antibiotics, seek medical advice immediately.
Can gonorrhea cause infertility?
It may cause infertility or ectopic pregnancies. A pregnant woman infected with gonorrhea can pass the infection onto a newborn. Both men and women can also experience blood infections from untreated gonorrhea, resulting in heart valve damage, arthritis, and inflammation of the spinal cord.
How long does it take for gonorrhea to go away?
Pelvic pain and pain in the testicles should start to improve quickly but may take up to two weeks to go away.
What is the best medicine for gonorrhea?
To treat gonorrhea, you need antibiotics. The usual treatment involves a combination of an antibiotic that is taken as an injection (called Ceftriaxone) and another antibiotic that is taken as a tablet (called Azithromycin). You only need a single dose of each drug.
How long after taking antibiotics can you have sex?
You should wait seven days after taking the antibiotics before having sex. If you have had symptoms, you should wait seven days after them clearing up before having sex. Your sexual partner or partners may need to have treatment as well. If you have sex before seven days, there is a risk that you could spread gonorrhea to your partner or partners.
Gonorrhea Treatment
If you have this STD, the CDC now recommends a single 500-mg IM dose (1000 mg in patients weighing ≥150 kg) of the third-generation ceftriaxone. The antibiotic azithromycin ( Zithromax, Zmax) may be added as a precaution against possible clamydia.
After Treatment
You and your partner should wait at least 7 days after you both finish treatment to resume sexual activity. Your doctor may advise you to follow up for testing to make sure the infection is completely gone.
What If Symptoms Persist?
Unfortunately, some types of gonorrhea bacteria don’t respond to the usual antibiotic treatment. Doctors call this “ antibiotic resistance .” They’ve been seeing a rise in these stronger bacteria for several years. If you continue to have symptoms a few days after treatment, see your doctor again.

Taking The Incorrect Medication
Taking Medication incorrectly
Your Partner Didn't Get Treated
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