gonorrhea T h e F a c T s 

P r o t e c t Y o u r s e l f + P r o t e c t Y o u r P a r t n e r 
 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

P r o t e c t Y o u r s e l f + P r o t e c t Y o u r P a r t n e r 

THe facTs 

•	 Gonorrhea (gon a REE a) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). 

•	 Anyone who is sexually active can get gonorrhea. It is more 

common among teens and young adults. 

•	 Many people who have gonorrhea don’t know it. Especially in 

women, the disease often has no symptoms. 

•	 You can pass gonorrhea to others without knowing it. 

•	 Gonorrhea can be cured with the right treatment. 

•	 If you do not treat gonorrhea, it can lead to serious health 

problems. 
 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	

P r o t e c t Y o u r s e l f + P r o t e c t Y o u r P a r t n e r 

How can I lower my rIsk for gonorrHea? 

•	 The surest way to prevent gonorrhea is not to have sex or 

to have sex only with someone who’s not infected and who 

has sex only with you. 

•	 Condoms can reduce your risk of getting gonorrhea if used 

the right way every single time you have sex. 

•	 Washing the genitals, urinating, or douching after sex will 

not prevent any STD. 

“

How does someone get gonorrhea? 

You can get gonorrhea by having sex with 

someone who has it. "Having sex” means 

having anal, oral, or vaginal contact. 

If you are a pregnant woman who has gonorrhea, 

you can pass the infection to your baby. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the symptoms of gonorrhea? 

If you are a Woman 

You can get gonorrhea in the anus, 

eyes, mouth, throat, urinary tract, 

or uterus. You may not notice any 

symptoms. If you do have symptoms, 

they will vary depending on what 

part of your body is infected. 

If you have gonorrhea in the uterus 

or urinary tract, you might notice 

these symptoms: 

• 	Vaginal bleeding between 

your periods. 

• 	Pain or burning when you 

pass urine. 

• 	Increased vaginal discharge. 

If you have gonorrhea in the rectum, 

you might notice these symptoms: 

Itching, soreness, bleeding, 

a discharge from your rectum, 

or painful bowel movements. 

If you have gonorrhea in the 

throat, you might notice that 

your throat is sore. 

If you are a man 

You can get gonorrhea in the anus, 

eyes, mouth, penis, or throat. You 

may not notice any symptoms. If 

you do have symptoms, they will 

vary depending on what part of 

your body is infected. 

If you have gonorrhea in the penis, 

you might notice these symptoms: 

• 	Pain or burning when you 

pass urine. 

• A discharge from your penis. 

• Painful or swollen testicles. 

If you have gonorrhea in the 

rectum, you might notice: 

Itching, soreness, bleeding, 

a discharge from your rectum, 

or painful bowel movements. 

If you have gonorrhea in the 

throat, you might notice that 

your throat is sore. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

When should I be tested? 

If you are a Woman 

You should be tested for gonorrhea if 

you: 

• Have any symptoms or a partner 

who has gonorrhea or symptoms 

that might be gonorrhea.

•

	 

Have another STD, such as 

chlamydia.

If you’re pregnant, ask the doctor if 

you should be tested for gonorrhea. 

If you are a man 

You should be tested for gonorrhea if 

you: 

•	 Have any symptoms or a partner 

who has gonorrhea or symptoms 

that might be gonorrhea.

•	 Have another STD, such as 

chlamydia.

•

	 

Are sexually active and gay, 

bisexual, or have sex with men, 

you should be tested for 

gonorrhea every year.

How can I find out if I have gonorrhea? 

Ask a doctor to give you a test for gonorrhea. 

• Are sexually active and younger 

than 25, you should be tested for 

gonorrhea every year. 
How is gonorrhea treated? 

• Gonorrhea can be treated and cured with antibiotics. 

• Finish all of the medicine to be sure you are cured. 

• Don’t share your medicine with anyone. You need all of it. 

• If you still have symptoms after treatment, go back to see the doctor. 

Can I get gonorrhea again after I’ve been treated? 

Yes, you can get gonorrhea again. You can get it from an 

untreated partner or a new partner. 

If I have gonorrhea, what does that mean for my partner? 

• Your partner may have gonorrhea, too. 

• Be sure to tell your recent sex partners, so they can get tested and 

treated. 

• Avoid having sex until you’ve both finished your treatment, so you 

don’t re-infect each other. 
 

 

 

What happens if I don’t get treated? 

Gonorrhea stays in your body if it is not treated. You may have a higher 

risk of getting HIV infection if you have unprotected sex with a partner 

living with HIV. Gonorrhea can also spread to the blood or joints. This 

condition can be very serious. 

If you are a Woman 

•	 Gonorrhea can spread into 

the uterus or fallopian tubes 

and cause pelvic inflammatory 

disease (PID), a serious 

infection that happens when 

gonorrhea spreads to the 

reproductive organs. 

•	 PID can also cause damage 

that makes you unable to get 

pregnant. 

•	 Untreated gonorrhea may cause 

chronic pain in your pelvic area. 

•	 If you have untreated 

gonorrhea, you could pass the 

infection to your baby when 

giving birth. Gonorrhea can 

cause serious health problems 

for babies. 

If you are a man 

•	 You may develop a painful 

condition in the testicles. In 

rare cases, this may prevent 

you from fathering children. 
A message for everyone 

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNER. 

Always see a doctor if your partner is being treated for gonorrhea. 

Also see the doctor if you or your sex partner notice any symptoms, 

such as an unusual discharge. 

If you have gonorrhea, you should be tested for other STDs. Be sure 

to tell your recent sex partners, so they can get tested too. Talk openly 

and honestly with your partner about gonorrhea and other STDs. 

For more information 

• Talk with your doctor. 

• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO. 

• Visit www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea. 

CDC Publication No. 99-8828