Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can infect both men and women. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is a very common infection, especially among people ages 15-34 years.

Any sexually active person can get gonorrhea through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. A pregnant woman with gonorrhea can give the infection to her baby during childbirth. If you are sexually active, have an honest and open talk with your health care provider and ask whether you should be tested for gonorrhea or other STIs. If you are a sexually active man who is gay, bisexual, or who has sex with men, you should be tested for gonorrhea every year. If you are a sexually active woman younger than 25 years or an older woman with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection, you should be tested for gonorrhea every year.

Gonorrhea Prevention

The only way to avoid STIs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting gonorrhea:

• Be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results;
• Use latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.
  • How to use an external ("male") condom.
  • How to use an internal ("female") condom

Free condoms are available from the Health Department at 1270 Natividad Road in Salinas. Call 831-755-4626 to check availability or stop by during normal business hours.

Gonorrhea Testing and Treatment

Where can I get tested?

Click to visit the CDC's Get Tested website where you can enter select the type of testing you are interested in and enter your ZIP code to find a testing location near you.

How will my doctor test me for gonorrhea?

Urine can be used to test for gonorrhea infections that aren't in your throat or rectum.  Swabs may also be used to collect samples from your throat and/or rectum if you have sex using these body parts.  In some cases, a swab may be used to collect a sample from a man’s urethra (urine canal) or a woman’s cervix (opening to the womb).

Can gonorrhea be cured?

Yes, gonorrhea can be cured with the right treatment. It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection. Medication for gonorrhea should not be shared with anyone. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not undo any permanent damage caused by the disease. It is becoming harder to treat some gonorrhea, as drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea are increasing. If your symptoms continue for more than a few days after receiving treatment, you should return to a health care provider to be checked again.

I was treated for gonorrhea. When can I have sex again?

You should wait seven days after finishing all medications before having sex. To avoid getting infected with gonorrhea again or spreading gonorrhea to your partner(s), you and your sex partner(s) should avoid having sex until you have each completed treatment. If you’ve had gonorrhea and took medicine in the past, you can still get infected again if you have unprotected sex with a person who has gonorrhea.

What happens if I don’t get treated?

Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both women and men. In women, untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Some of the complications of PID are

• Formation of scar tissue that blocks fallopian tubes; 
• Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb);
• Infertility (inability to get pregnant);
• Long-term pelvic/abdominal pain.

In men, gonorrhea can cause a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles. In rare cases, this may cause a man to be sterile, or prevent him from being able to father a child.

Rarely, untreated gonorrhea can also spread to your blood or joints. This condition can be life-threatening. Untreated gonorrhea may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV – the virus that causes AIDS.

How does gonorrhea affect my baby?

If you are pregnant and have gonorrhea, you can give the infection to your baby during delivery. This can cause serious health problems for your baby. If you are pregnant, it is important that you talk to your health care provider so that you get the correct examination, testing, and treatment, as necessary. Treating gonorrhea as soon as possible will make health complications for your baby less likely.

How can I let my sexual partners know they need to be tested without them knowing I might have infected them?

You can send your partners an anonymous text through the TellYourPartner.org website. It is confidential and easy to use. Learn more about how it works by clicking here.

Gonorrhea Surveillance Data

Please click to view the Communicable Disease dashboard with local gonorrhea data available in English and Spanish.

California data is available at the California Department of Public Health’s gonorrhea website.

United States data is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s gonorrhea website.

For More Information

California Department of Public Health website

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website

For Healthcare Providers

California STI Treatment Guidelines (CDPH)

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