Health Information
Gonorrhea Test
Why It Is Done
Tests for gonorrhea are done to:
- See if a gonorrhea infection may be causing symptoms such as painful urination, anal itching or bleeding, vaginal bleeding after intercourse, or abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina.
- Screen women who are
at high risk for a gonorrhea infection. Because a gonorrhea infection does not
always cause symptoms, screening is important. The United States Preventive
Services Task Force (Reference USPSTF Opens New Window) recommends routine gonorrhea
screening for:Reference 1
- Women with Reference high-risk sexual behaviors.
- Pregnant women who have an increased risk for a gonorrhea infection.
- Check for infection in a newborn whose mother had gonorrhea at the time of delivery.
Treating a pregnant woman who has a gonorrhea infection can prevent an infection in her newborn. Screening may be done at the first prenatal visit. Another test may be done during the last 3 months of pregnancy.
In some cases, gonorrhea tests may be done to determine if a recently treated infection has been successfully treated. This is not routinely needed unless gonorrhea has occurred during pregnancy or your sex partner was not treated.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference April 15, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine |
|
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