When is antibiotic treatment recommended for gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that can affect the genitals, throat, rectum or eyes. It may cause discharge, burning when urinating, pelvic or testicular pain, rectal discomfort or a sore throat, but some people have no symptoms. A clinician may take urine or swab samples from the relevant body sites. Treatment is selected according to local guidance, previous antibiotics, allergies and the possibility of resistance. Treating the infection protects your health and reduces transmission, but it does not undo tissue damage that has already occurred.

Take the prescribed antibiotic exactly as directed and avoid sex until your clinician confirms it is safe, including oral and genital contact. Tell recent sexual partners so they can be assessed and treated; a clinic can help you do this confidentially. Do not use someone else’s medicine or rely on symptom improvement as proof of cure. Attend recommended follow-up testing, particularly if symptoms remain or infection involved the throat. Ask about testing for other sexually transmitted infections.

Seek urgent help for severe lower abdominal pain, fever with pelvic pain, sudden testicular pain or swelling, eye pain with discharge, a widespread rash, painful swollen joints or feeling faint. These features can signal complications or a serious reaction. Arrange prompt testing after a sexual exposure or if a partner has gonorrhoea, even without symptoms.

Ask which samples will be tested, whether treatment is being given before results, when sex can safely resume, how partners should be contacted, and whether a test of cure is needed. Ask what to do if symptoms do not improve and whether other sexually transmitted infection tests are appropriate.