Gonorrhea is a common bacterial infection that’s easily cured with antibiotic medicine. It’s sexually transmitted, and most people with gonorrhea don’t have symptoms.
One of the most common STDs
Gonorrhea is a very common sexually transmitted infection, especially for teens and people in their 20s. Gonorrhea is sometimes called “the clap” or “the drip.”
Gonorrhea is spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The infection is carried in
semen (cum),
pre-cum, and vaginal fluids. Gonorrhea can infect your
penis,
vagina,
cervix,
anus,
urethra, throat, and eyes (but that’s rare). Most people with gonorrhea don’t have any symptoms and feel totally fine, so they might not even know they’re infected.
Gonorrhea is usually easily cured with antibiotics. But if you don’t treat gonorrhea early enough, it can lead to more serious health problems in the future. That’s why STD testing is so important — the sooner you know you have gonorrhea, the faster you can get rid of it.
You can help prevent gonorrhea by using condoms every time you have sex.
How do you get gonorrhea?
People usually get gonorrhea from having unprotected sex with someone who has the infection. Gonorrhea is spread when
semen(cum),
pre-cum, and vaginal fluids get on or inside your genitals, anus, or mouth. Gonorrhea can be passed even if the penis doesn’t go all the way in the vagina or anus.
The main ways people get gonorrhea are from having
vaginal sex,
anal sex, or
oral sex. You can also get gonorrhea by touching your eye if you have infected fluids on your hand.
Gonorrhea can also be spread to a baby during birth if the mother has it.
Gonorrhea isn’t spread through casual contact, so you CAN’T get it from sharing food or drinks, kissing, hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on toilet seats.
Many people with gonorrhea don’t have any symptoms, but they can still spread the infection to others. So using condoms and/or dental dams every time you have sex is the best way to help prevent gonorrhea — even if you and your partner seem totally healthy.
In This Section
- Gonorrhea
- What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
- Should I get tested for gonorrhea?
- How do I get treated for gonorrhea?
- How do I prevent gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea doesn’t always have symptoms, so many people don’t know they’ve got it. But if you do notice signs of gonorrhea, get tested right away. Here’s what to look for.
Gonorrhea doesn’t always have symptoms.
Gonorrhea can be tricky, because you or your partner may not have any symptoms. Or the signs of gonorrhea may be so mild you don’t even notice them. Sometimes people confuse gonorrhea symptoms with other infections. Lots of people don’t even realize they have gonorrhea — that’s part of the reason why it’s such a common infection (and why it’s so important to get tested).
Gonorrhea can lead to serious health problems and even infertility if you don’t treat it. But it’s usually easy to cure it with medicine. This is why regular STD testing is so important, no matter how healthy you feel.
Symptoms of gonorrhea.
Most people with vaginas who get gonorrhea don’t have any symptoms. If they do, gonorrhea symptoms show up within about a week of being infected. These include:
- Pain or burning feeling when you pee
- Abnormal discharge from the vagina that may be yellowish or bloody
- Bleeding between periods
People with penises are more likely to have symptoms if they get gonorrhea. The symptoms usually begin within a week after they get the infection. These include:
- Yellow, white, or green discharge from your penis
- Pain or burning feeling when you pee
- Pain or swelling in your testicles
Gonorrhea can also infect your anus if you have anal sex, or you may spread the infection to your anus from another part of your body (like by wiping after you go to the bathroom). Anal gonorrhea often doesn’t have any symptoms. But signs of gonorrhea in your anus can include:
- Itching in or around your anus
- Discharge from your anus
- Pain when you poop
Gonorrhea infections in the throat also rarely cause symptoms. If symptoms do show up, it’s usually just a sore throat.
If you or your sexual partner(s) have any of these symptoms, go to a nurse, doctor, or your local Planned Parenthood Health Center. It’s especially important to get checked out if you’re pregnant. The only way to know for sure if you have gonorrhea is to get tested.
In This Section
- Gonorrhea
- What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
- Should I get tested for gonorrhea?
- How do I get treated for gonorrhea?
- How do I prevent gonorrhea?
Getting tested is the only way to find out if you have gonorrhea. People who have sex should get tested regularly. Gonorrhea tests are generally quick, painless, and sometimes free.
How do I know if I have gonorrhea?
You can’t tell for sure if you have gonorrhea just by the way you feel. Like all STDs, the only way to know if you have gonorrhea is to get tested — whether or not you have symptoms.
If you think you have gonorrhea symptoms, get tested. Testing is also a good idea if you’ve had unprotected sex or if someone you’ve had sex with has gonorrhea (even if you don’t have symptoms). In general, people who are sexually active should get tested for STDs, including gonorrhea, about once a year. If you’re pregnant, get tested for gonorrhea at your first prenatal visit. Want to know if you should be tested for gonorrhea? Check out this quiz to find out.
Luckily, gonorrhea testing is usually pretty easy and painless. The best part about getting tested for STDs? Once you get it over with, it can really put your mind at ease. And if you DO have gonorrhea, it’s best to know right away so you can take medication and get better as soon as possible.
What happens during a gonorrhea test?
Gonorrhea testing can be as easy as peeing in a cup. Your nurse or doctor may test any discharge that comes from your
urethra,
vagina, or
anus. Sometimes they’ll use a swab to take cell samples from your
penis,
cervix,
urethra,
anus, or throat. The samples are tested for gonorrhea bacteria.
Gonorrhea can have symptoms that look like other common STDs like chlamydia, so your nurse or doctor might test you for a few infections.
The idea of getting tested may seem scary, but try to relax. STD testing is a regular part of being a responsible adult and taking care of your health. The good news is gonorrhea is totally curable with medicine — so the sooner you know you have it, the faster you can get rid of it.
Where can I get tested for gonorrhea?
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