Gonorrhea

Diagnosis

A sample of cells will be analyzed by your doctor to see if you have gonorrhea. Samples can be gathered using:

• Urine test. By doing so, the germs in your urethra can be found.
• Taking a sample of the affected area. Bacteria can be gathered from a swab of your throat, urethra, vagina, or rectum and identified in a lab.

There are gonorrhea home test kits available for women. They consist of vaginal swabs for self–testing that are delivered to a particular lab for analysis. You have the option of receiving a text message or email when your findings are ready.

Testing for other sexually transmitted infections

Your medical provider might suggest screenings for additional sexually transmitted infections. The presence of gonorrhea heightens susceptibility to such infections, notably chlamydia, which frequently coexists with gonorrhea.

Anyone who has had a sexually transmitted infection diagnosed should also consider getting tested for HIV. Tests for additional sexually transmitted illnesses may also be helpful depending on your risk factors.

Treatment

Gonorrhea treatment in adults

Antibiotics are used to treat gonorrhea in adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise using the antibiotic ceftriaxone as an injectable to treat uncomplicated gonorrhea due to the emergence of drug–resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains.

For up to seven days after receiving the antibiotic, you could still infect others. Therefore, refrain from sexual activity for at least seven days.

Gonorrhea treatment for partners

Even if they show no symptoms, your recent sexual partner(s) from the last 60 days needs to be checked and treated as well. You can contract gonorrhea again through sex if they don’t get treated when you are receiving treatment for it. Wait seven days after your partner receives treatment before engaging in any sexual activity.

Gonorrhea treatment for babies

Babies delivered to mothers with gonorrhea can receive antibiotic to treat the disease.