What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that affects people of all genders and ages. Gonorrhea is caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria and is easily treated with antibiotics.
How does gonorrhea spread?
- Gonorrhea is passed through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection.
- It can spread even without penetration, through close genital contact.
- People can have gonorrhea without knowing it—many do not notice symptoms.
- Gonorrhea can infect different body parts: vaginal area, penis, anus, throat, or eyes.
- Untreated or improperly treated gonorrhea infections can progress to a more serious condition in which the bacteria enter the bloodstream and cause a severe illness, called disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI).
Signs and symptoms
Most people don’t have symptoms, which is why regular testing is important. When they do appear, they usually show up 1–14 days after exposure.
If you have a vagina, look for:
- Thick yellow or gray vaginal discharge
- Burning or pain during urination or bowel movements
- Bleeding between periods or after sex
- Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen
If you have a penis, look for:
- Thick yellow or greenish discharge from the penis
- Burning or pain during urination or bowel movements
- Needing to urinate more often
- Swollen or tender testicles
All genders, look for:
- Anal pain, discharge, or bleeding
- Sore throat (if infection is in the throat)
- Eye pain or discharge (rare)
Get tested
- Testing is simple—usually a urine test or/and a vaginal swab, a swab from rectum, or/and throat.
- Regular screening is recommended, especially for sexually active people under age 25 or anyone with new or multiple partners.
- Be open with your healthcare provider about your sexual activities so they can test all relevant areas.
- Find testing sites in suburban Cook County.
- Get free condoms.
Get treated
- Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare provider.
- It’s important to complete all medications as instructed.
- Sexual partners should also be tested and treated to prevent reinfection.
A note about antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea:
While gonorrhea is currently treatable with recommended antibiotics, gonorrhea has a long history of acquiring resistance to antibiotics. Resistance to the current class of antibiotics used to treat gonorrhea is increasing globally. Resistant gonorrhea remains rare in the United States, but it is important to get back in touch with your doctor if your symptoms do not resolve or get worse after receiving treatment for gonorrhea. Your doctor can perform a ‘test of cure’ and connect you with care if the infection has not been successfully cleared. You can learn more about antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea here.
Why treatment matters
Without treatment, gonorrhea can cause:
- Long-term pelvic pain
- Fertility issues in all genders
- Complications during pregnancy or passing the infection to a baby during birth
- Damage to reproductive organs
- Heart trouble, skin disease, arthritis
- Increased risk of acquiring or transmitting other STIs, including HIV
Protect yourself and others
- Use condoms or dental dams during vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
- Get tested regularly and encourage partners to do the same.
- Getting tested again 1–2 weeks after treatment can help ensure that your infection has been cured and that you do not have an antibiotic-resistant infection or one that could progress to DGI.
- Talk openly with partners and your doctor about STI prevention—it’s part of healthy communication.
- Ask your doctor about additional protection and prevention options, such as expedited partner therapy (EPT), Doxy-PEP, PrEP, or nPEP, which can help reduce the risk of some infections, including HIV.
- Avoid sexual contact until you and your partner(s) have completed treatment.
Follow up for reportable STIs
(Chlamydia/Gonorrhea/Syphilis/Mpox/HIV) are reportable conditions, requiring doctors and laboratories to notify health departments when they find a positive test result. This means that your local health department may reach out to you if your test results are positive. Here’s what comes next:
- Ensure you’ve been able to access treatment and that treatment was appropriate
- The health department will provide you with more information on STIs
- The health department collects a brief sexual history and possible exposure timeline
- Your cooperation helps stop the infection from spreading in the community
Your personal information is protected under HIPAA regulations, and everything you share is completely confidential.
Updated July 15, 2026, 4:17 PM