Gonorrhoea test and treatment (Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing and antibiotic treatment)
A test to check for gonorrhoea, a common bacterial sexually transmitted infection, and antibiotic treatment (usually an injection) to clear it if found.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- Gonorrhoea is common and often causes no symptoms, especially in women, so testing is the only reliable way to know.
- It is treated with antibiotics, usually a single injection, and a follow-up test of cure is normally advised.
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem, which is why the right antibiotic and a check that it worked matter.
- Free, confidential testing, treatment and partner notification are available on the NHS, so you do not have to pay privately.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.
Finds an infection that often has no symptoms, so it can be treated early
A urine test alone is the wrong test if you have had oral or anal sex, because throat and rectal infection are easily missed.
Giving urine or a self-taken swab takes only a few minutes and is usually not painful or mildly uncomfortable. You can carry on with your day.
Treatment by injection in clinic, with clear advice to avoid sex for 7 days and until partners are treated.
Giving urine or a self-taken swab takes only a few minutes and is usually not painful or mildly uncomfortable. You...
Treatment is usually a single antibiotic injection. The site may feel sore for a short time. Symptoms, if any...
Avoid all sex (including with a condom) until 7 days after treatment and until any partner has been treated, to...
A follow-up test is usually advised, often around 2 weeks after treatment, to confirm the infection has cleared...
What is a gonorrhoea test and treatment?
Gonorrhoea is an infection caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is passed on through vaginal, anal or oral sex, and is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK.
Many women and some men have no symptoms, so a test is often the only way to know. Testing usually means a urine sample or a swab (which you can often take yourself), and may include the throat and rectum depending on the type of sex you have had. If gonorrhoea is found, it is treated with antibiotics, usually a single injection.
Gonorrhoea matters partly because the bacteria have become resistant to several antibiotics over time. This is why treatment is now an injection of a specific antibiotic, and why a follow-up test of cure is usually recommended to make sure it has worked.
NHS sexual health (genitourinary medicine, or GUM) clinics offer testing and treatment free and confidentially. You do not need to pay or get a GP referral.
Types, options & approaches
There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.
NHS sexual health clinic vs private testing
| Point | NHS clinic | Private |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | You pay |
| Injection treatment | Given in clinic | Check it is offered |
| Test of cure | Arranged | Check included |
| Partner notification | Yes, offered | Varies |
Because gonorrhoea is usually treated by injection and needs a test of cure, an in-person service is important. NHS clinics provide this free; if you use a private home kit, check where treatment and follow-up will happen.
Preparing for your treatment
- Try not to pass urine for about 1 to 2 hours before a urine sample, as this can make the test more reliable.
- Think about timing: a test very soon after sex can miss a recent infection, so ask the clinic when to test.
- Note when you last had sex and with whom if you can, to help partner notification.
- Mention the type of sex you have had, so the right sites (throat, rectum) are tested.
- Tell the clinic if you are pregnant or might be, and about any antibiotic allergies.
- Be aware that if gonorrhoea is found, treatment is usually an injection, so plan to attend in person.
- You do not need ID or proof of address, and you do not have to share your GP's details if you prefer not to.
What happens
At a clinic, a clinician will ask about symptoms and recent sexual contacts in confidence. This helps decide which samples to take and supports partner notification.
You usually give a urine sample or take a swab yourself in private. Throat and rectal swabs may be added depending on the sex you have had. The samples go to a laboratory, and some clinics can do a rapid test for people with symptoms.
If you have symptoms, treatment may be started straight away. Treatment is usually a single antibiotic injection into a muscle (often the buttock or thigh). You will normally be asked to come back, or test again, to confirm the infection has cleared.
If you use a home kit and the result is positive, you will be directed to a clinic for treatment, because the injection cannot be given by post.
Is this treatment right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- A urine test alone is the wrong test if you have had oral or anal sex, because throat and rectal infection are easily missed.
- A home kit is not enough on its own if the result is positive, because the treatment injection must be given in a clinic.
- Testing is not a substitute for treatment if you already have clear symptoms; treatment may begin without waiting for the result.
- Self-testing may not suit you if you have severe symptoms, pelvic or testicular pain, or feel unwell.
Delay or rearrange if…
- It is very soon after the sex you are worried about, as a too-early test can miss infection; ask about timing.
- You have severe pelvic or testicular pain, fever, or feel very unwell, which needs urgent assessment.
- You are unsure whether you are pregnant, as this affects treatment and follow-up; tell the clinic.
- You cannot return for the treatment injection or attend a test of cure.
Alternatives to discuss
- A full sexual health screen covering several infections at once.
- Testing and treatment through a free NHS sexual health clinic rather than a private provider.
- An in-person clinic assessment rather than a home kit if you have symptoms.
- Waiting and retesting at the right time if you have tested very early after exposure.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Benefits
- Finds an infection that often has no symptoms, so it can be treated early
- Treatment usually clears the infection and protects your future fertility
- A test of cure checks the treatment has worked, which matters with antibiotic resistance
- Helps protect partners through treatment and partner notification
- Reduces the risk of complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease
- Free and confidential on the NHS, with no need to pay or be judged
Risks & complications
- Mild discomfort taking a swab, or none at all
- Soreness at the injection site after treatment
- A test taken too early can be falsely negative, so an infection may be missed
- Worry while waiting for results or telling partners
- Needing a repeat test if the sample was inadequate or taken too soon
- Treatment not clearing the infection, so a different antibiotic is needed
- Side effects from the antibiotic, such as stomach upset
- An allergic reaction to the antibiotic
- Drug-resistant gonorrhoea that is harder to treat and needs specialist care
The two main concerns are timing and resistance. A test soon after sex can miss infection, so ask the clinic about when to test and whether to repeat it. Because gonorrhoea can resist antibiotics, the specific recommended antibiotic and a test of cure are important; tell the clinic about any penicillin or other antibiotic allergy so the right treatment is chosen safely.
Published figures to discuss
Gonorrhoea testing is accurate when the right sites are sampled at the right time, but a urine test alone misses many throat and rectal infections. Treatment with the recommended injection clears most infections, but antibiotic resistance is rising, which is why a test of cure is advised and why figures change over time. Resistant infections remain uncommon in the UK and are often linked to travel, but they are taken seriously.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cure with recommended ceftriaxone treatment | High for susceptible infection | Treatment works well when the right antibiotic is used, but resistance is the central reason culture, susceptibility and follow-up matter. | NHS — Gonorrhoeanhs.ukSource-linked context |
| Need for test of cure | Recommended for pharyngeal infection, persistent symptoms, pregnancy, unknown susceptibility or non-ceftriaxone treatment | BASHH 2025 emphasises targeted test-of-cure rather than assuming every treated infection has cleared. | NHS — Gonorrhoeanhs.ukSource-linked context |
| Throat or rectal infection missed | Recognised sampling pitfall | Urine or genital swabs alone do not rule out infection at other exposed sites. | NHS — Gonorrhoeanhs.ukSource-linked context |
| Reinfection after successful treatment | Common if partners are not treated | Partner notification and avoiding sex until treatment is complete are as important as the antibiotic. | NHS — Gonorrhoeanhs.ukSource-linked context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
What happens afterwards
There is no physical recovery from the test. After the treatment injection, the main things are to avoid sex until you and your partner have been treated, and to attend any follow-up test of cure.
- No physical after-effects from the test itself
- Short-lived soreness at the injection site
- Symptoms (if you had them) settling within a few days of treatment
- Feeling relieved, anxious or upset; all are normal reactions
- Arranging partner notification, which the clinic can do anonymously
Aftercare
- Avoid vaginal, anal and oral sex until 7 days after treatment and until partners have been treated.
- Attend the test of cure if you are advised to have one.
- Tell recent sexual partners so they can be tested and treated; the clinic can do this anonymously.
- Take any additional antibiotics exactly as directed and finish the course.
- Contact the clinic if symptoms do not improve within a few days or come back.
- Tell the clinic straight away if you develop a rash, swelling or breathing difficulty after treatment.
- Consider regular testing and condoms to lower the chance of future infection.
- If you are pregnant, follow the clinic's specific advice for treatment and follow-up.
- List of recent sexual partners, if you can, to help notification
- Knowing the date for your test of cure if advised
- Antibiotic allergies noted
- A plan to avoid sex for at least 7 days after treatment
- The clinic's contact number saved in case symptoms persist
- A reminder to attend in person for the treatment injection
- A note to consider a repeat screen in a few months
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- Lower tummy or pelvic pain that is getting worse
- Painful, swollen testicles
- Fever or feeling generally unwell
- Joint pain or a rash with feeling unwell (can rarely mean the infection has spread)
- Symptoms that do not improve within a few days of treatment, or come back
- A rash, swelling of the face or mouth, or difficulty breathing after the antibiotic (seek urgent help)
Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A negative result usually means no gonorrhoea was found in the sample, although a test taken very soon after sex can miss a recent infection. A positive result means gonorrhoea was found and should be treated.
Because of antibiotic resistance, a test of cure is often done after treatment to confirm the infection has cleared, particularly for throat infection or if symptoms continue. A result tells you about the present and cannot say exactly when or from whom you caught the infection.
A clear result reflects the time of the test only. You can catch gonorrhoea again at any time, so a negative result does not protect you in the future. Regular testing is sensible with new or multiple partners, and a test of cure after treatment is important because of antibiotic resistance.
Related tests, treatments or support
Gonorrhoea testing is usually done alongside chlamydia, and often with HIV, syphilis and sometimes hepatitis testing, as part of a full sexual health check. Testing for several infections at once is normal because they share similar risks and many cause no symptoms.
Follow-up & long-term care
After treatment, the clinic will usually arrange a test of cure, often around two weeks later, to confirm the infection has gone. They will help with partner notification and advise on a repeat screen in a few months if appropriate. Contact them sooner if symptoms persist or return, as this may signal resistant infection that needs different treatment.
- Use condoms to lower the risk of future infection.
- Have regular sexual health checks if you have new or multiple partners.
- Make sure partners are tested and treated to avoid reinfection.
- Attend any advised test of cure to confirm treatment worked.
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- A test of cure is recommended after treatment, particularly for throat infection or persisting symptoms, because of antibiotic resistance.
- If symptoms persist or the test of cure is positive, a different antibiotic and specialist input may be needed.
- Reinfection is common, so a repeat screen in a few months is often advised even after successful treatment.
Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.
What good aftercare looks like
- Treatment by injection in clinic, with clear advice to avoid sex for 7 days and until partners are treated.
- A test of cure arranged where recommended, with a named contact for problems.
- Help with partner notification, anonymously if you prefer.
- Clear instructions on what to do if symptoms persist, suggesting possible resistance.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- Whether you use the free NHS service or pay for private testing
- Which sites are tested (urine, vaginal, throat, rectal swabs)
- Whether the test is done in clinic or by postal kit
- Whether the treatment injection and a test of cure are included
- How quickly results and treatment are provided
- Whether partner notification support is included
- The cost of the test and which sites it covers
- Whether the treatment injection is included or arranged if the result is positive
- Whether a test of cure is included
- How and when you will get your result
- Whether partner notification support is provided
- What happens, and what it costs, if a sample is inadequate or the infection is resistant
On the NHS? Gonorrhoea testing and treatment are free and confidential on the NHS at sexual health (GUM) clinics; because treatment is usually an injection and a test of cure is advised, an in-person service is important, and private testing is not more accurate.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Only urine is tested when you have also had oral or anal sex, missing those sites.
- No clear plan for where the treatment injection and test of cure will happen, especially with a home kit.
- No explanation that a too-early test can be falsely negative.
- Treatment, test of cure or partner notification not included in a private package.
Marketing red flags
- Suggesting tablets bought online are an adequate substitute for the recommended injection.
- Charging for a test without explaining that the NHS offers testing and treatment free.
- Ignoring antibiotic resistance and not offering a test of cure.
- Implying a single negative test rules out all infections for the future.
Choosing a specialist safely
- Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
- You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.
- When is the best time to test after the sex I am worried about?
- Which sites should be tested, given the type of sex I have had?
- If positive, will I be treated today, and how is the injection given?
- Do I need a test of cure, and when should I have it?
- What happens if the infection is resistant or does not clear?
- Can you help me tell my partners anonymously?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the specialist who carries out my treatment, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this treatment not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay to be tested or treated?
Is the treatment really an injection?
Why do I need a test of cure?
How soon after sex can I test?
Will anyone find out?
Can gonorrhoea affect fertility?
Find a verified specialist for gonorrhoea test and treatment
Every consultant is GMC-checked and independently reviewed. Search by postcode and distance, or switch to a map. Ordered by rating, relevance and recency — never by who pays.
No verified consultants list this procedure yet — browse the full directory.
How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: NHS — Gonorrhoea BASHH — Gonorrhoea guideline 2025 BASHH — chlamydia and gonorrhoea treatment update Terrence Higgins Trust — STIs overview SH:24 — STI testing window periods
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
Related guides: Chlamydia test and treatment · Full STI screen · Sexual health (GUM) consultation · Sexually transmitted infection assessment · Genital warts diagnosis and treatment