Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea can infect the genitals, the rectum and the throat, and it is especially common between the ages of 15 and 24. Most women who have it notice nothing at all.

Get tested for gonorrhea

1-2 daysfor results

Urineno needle

4,500+labs nationwide

GET TESTED NOWNo appointment needed

Why test for gonorrhea?

Most women have no symptomsAnd when symptoms do appear they are often mild enough to be mistaken for a bladder infection.

It infects the throat and rectum tooThose sites need their own swab. A urine sample alone will not find them.

It is very common in under-25sThe CDC singles out ages 15 to 24 as the group where gonorrhea is most common.

It is curableTreatment is straightforward, but the damage untreated infection causes is not reversible.

When can I test?

Gonorrhea does not show up immediately after exposure.

1Wait for the window to passTesting too soon can return a negative result even when an infection is present.

2Give the right sample for where you were exposedUrine only tests the urethra. A throat or rectal exposure needs a swab of that site — a negative urine test does not rule them out. A vaginal swab is more sensitive than urine for women.

3Results in 1-2 daysIf positive, treatment is prescribed by a provider and partners should be tested too.

What Is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause infection in the genitals, rectum and throat. It is very common, especially among young people aged 15 to 24. Gonorrhea often has no symptoms at all, but it can cause serious health problems even when nothing is noticeable.

How is gonorrhea spread?

You can get gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom with someone who has the infection. A pregnant woman with gonorrhea can pass it to her baby during childbirth. Because it infects the throat and rectum as well as the genitals, exposure at those sites needs its own swab — a urine sample alone will not find it there.

How is gonorrhea treated?

Gonorrhea is curable with antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare provider. Treatment is usually a single injection; if you are also given tablets, take every dose. Do not have sex for at least seven days after you and your partners have finished treatment and symptoms have gone. Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea is a recognised concern, so treatment should follow current guidance rather than leftover medication. Treatment stops the infection but does not reverse damage already caused.

How common is gonorrhea?

Reported cases in the United States, 2000–2023

601,319reported cases, 20232.8×change since 2000

20002023

2023: 601,319 reported cases nationally, a rate of 179.5 per 100,000 — down 7.2% from 2022, a second consecutive year of decline.

2023 is the CDC published national total.

Highest rates by state

MS372 per 100k
10,933 cases

SD337 per 100k
3,067 cases

LA327 per 100k
15,015 cases

AK314 per 100k
2,304 cases

GA288 per 100k
31,450 cases

Gonorrhea, answered

Do I have it?

How is it spread?

When can I test?

Other infections

Gonorrhea often occurs alongside other STIs. Many panels screen for several at once.

ChlamydiaView →SyphilisFour stages, curable at any of themView →HerpesHSV-1 and HSV-2View →HIVWindow period varies by testView →HepatitisA, B and CView →HPVThe most common STI overallView →TrichomoniasisThe most common curable STIView →MycoplasmaWhen symptoms keep coming backView →

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026. This page is informational and is not medical advice. Where a figure cannot be sourced it is not stated.