Gonorrhea

There is no home treatment for gonorrhea. It requires medicine prescribed by a doctor.

Prescription antibiotic medicine normally cures gonorrhea infections. Gonorrhea does not cause long-term problems if it is treated before any complications develop. But gonorrhea can lead to many complications if it is not treated.

If you have been diagnosed with gonorrhea:

• Take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. If you skip doses or do not complete the treatment, the infection may not be cured.
• Do not have sexual contact with anyone while you are being treated. If your treatment is a single dose of antibiotics, wait at least 7 days after taking the dose before having any sexual contact.
• Make sure your partner knows that he or she needs to be treated even if there are no symptoms. You can spread the infection to others even if you do not have symptoms.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms continue or reappear after treatment or if new symptoms develop. You may need a different antibiotic medicine or further tests.

Finding out that you have gonorrhea may cause you to have negative thoughts or feelings about yourself or about sex. Talking to a counselor or joining a support group for people who have sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may be helpful.

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