Gonorrhoea treatment

Gonorrhoea treatment is highly effective in eradicating the infection, with a 95% effectiveness rate. Treatment usually consists of either taking a single dose of antibiotics, or receiving an antibiotic injection. If gonorrhoea has gone untreated for a long period and complications have developed, a longer course of treatment may be needed.

Up to 30% persons infected with gonorrhoea are also infected with chlamydia—when gonorrhoea treatment is provided, treatment for chlamydia is usually given too.

Results for gonorrhoea tests take seven working days. If you test positive you may be asked to return to clinic for treatment. However, in some instances you may be given gonorrhoea treatment on the day of your test. This may occur if gonorrhoea is detected under a microscope or you report that a sexual partner has been infected with gonorrhoea.

If you have been infected with gonorrhoea it is possible you may also have another sexually transmitted infection. Therefore it is advisable you have a full sexual health screen for chlamydia, syphilis and HIV. Any of our four sexual health clinics will routinely offer you a full sexual health check-up when you are tested for gonorrhoea.

If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, please inform your doctor or nurse as this may affect what antibiotics you are given.

In women using the combined contraceptive pill or patch, the antibiotics used in your gonorrhoea treatment may temporarily reduce the effectiveness of your contraception. Our staff will advise on how to ensure that you are protected from pregnancy throughout the course of your treatment.

Effectiveness of gonorrhoea treatment

Following gonorrhoea treatment, any symptoms of the infection will usually ease within a few days and clear up over a period of roughly two weeks.

Should you still be experiencing any symptoms after two weeks, return to the clinic as you may need further treatment and/or investigations.

If you are diagnosed with gonorrhoea, you may need to inform anyone you have had sex with within the last six months, as they may also be infected. They should be advised to attend a sexual health clinic for a gonorrhoea test and will usually be offered treatment on the day they attend. This advice is regardless of whether they have any symptoms or not, or whether or not you used a condom.

If you feel unable to inform previous sexual partners, our Health Advisers will be able to notify them on your behalf without revealing your identity.

You should not have oral, anal or vaginal sex during your course of gonorrhoea treatment or for seven days after a single dose treatment and until your current partner completes their treatment and until both you and your partner’s symptoms have abated. This is to avoid being re-infected and requiring further treatment.

As with all our services, gonorrhoea treatment is provided free of charge, and your confidentially will be respected at all times.