Gonorrhoea - Treating gonorrhoea
- Introduction
- Symptoms of gonorrhoea
- Diagnosing gonorrhoea
- Treating gonorrhoea
- Complications of gonorrhoea
- Causes
- Prevention
Gonorrhoea is usually treated with a short course of antibiotics.
Treatment is recommended if:
- tests have shown that you have gonorrhoea (see diagnosing gonorrhoea for more information)
- there is a high chance that you have gonorrhoea, even though your test results haven't come back yet
- your partner is found to have gonorrhoea
In most cases, treatment will involve having a single antibiotic injection (usually in the buttocks or thigh) followed by one antibiotic tablet. It is sometimes possible to have another antibiotic tablet instead of an injection if you prefer.
If you have any symptoms of gonorrhoea, these will usually improve within a few days, although it may take up to two weeks for any pain in your pelvis or testicles to go away completely. Bleeding between periods or heavy periods should improve by the time of your next period.
Attending a follow-up appointment a week or two after treatment is usually recommended so that another test can be carried out to see if you are clear of infection.
You should avoid having sex until you (and your partner) have been treated and given the all-clear to prevent re-infection or passing the infection on to anyone else.
If your symptoms do not improve after treatment or you think you have been infected again, see your doctor or nurse. Treatment may need to be repeated, or you may need further tests to check for other problems.
Sexual partners
Gonorrhoea is easily passed on through intimate sexual contact. If you are diagnosed with it, anyone you have recently had sex with may have it too. It is important that your current partner and any other recent sexual partners are tested and treated.
Your local genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinic may be able to help by notifying any of your previous partners on your behalf.
A contact slip can be sent to them explaining that they may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and suggesting that they go for a check-up. The slip will not have your name on it, so your confidentiality is protected.
© Crown Copyright 2009
