Gonorrhoea treatment
Gonorrhoea tablet treatment that’s up to 95% effective.
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection that can be passed on from one person to another, and doesn’t clear up without medication.
Answer a few questions about your health, and our experts can recommend safe and suitable treatment options for you. Order gonorrhoea treatment online, when you want it.
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that’s triggered by a bacteria called neisseria gonorrhoea. You may have heard it referred to as ‘the clap’ before. The bacteria is usually found in discharge from the penis and vaginal fluid, and so it can be passed on through sexual activity.
It can be transmitted from one person to another by having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex, and by sharing vibrators or sex toys that haven’t been cleaned, or covered with a fresh condom for each use.
Gonorrhoea may be painful, but it doesn’t always cause symptoms. It can have a serious impact on your health and fertility, along with the health and fertility of other people. Gonorrhoea is also an infection that doesn’t clear up without treatment.
Anyone can get gonorrhoea if they have unprotected sex with someone who already has the infection, or with someone whose gonorrhoea status is unclear. If you’re pregnant, it can also be transmitted to your baby, which can cause permanent blindness if it isn’t treated.
You can’t get gonorrhoea from things like toilet seats or sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, plates, cups, cutlery, kissing and hugging. The bacteria in gonorrhoea doesn’t survive for long periods outside of the body.
It’s estimated that around 30 million people have gonorrhoea worldwide, so it’s fairly common. Rates of infection have increased considerably over the last decade, so it’s very important that you get tested and seek treatment if you have or may have been exposed to gonorrhoea.
You can get tested at your local sexual health clinic and the process is very straightforward. A swab sample of your discharge or a urine sample can confirm a diagnosis.
You should go for a test as soon as you can as gonorrhoea can cause long-term complications if left untreated, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
It’s triggered by a bacterium called neisseria gonorrhoea, which infects the reproductive tract. So the uterus, cervix and fallopian tubes in women, and the urethra in men and women. It can also infect the mucous membranes that you find in your throat, eyes, mouth and rectum.
While sexual activity doesn’t cause gonorrhoea, it does transmit the infection from person to person if one sexual partner has it. Left untreated, gonorrhoea can spread through multiple people who can then keep passing it on.
Around one in ten men who are infected and approximately five in ten infected women won’t get any symptoms, meaning that the condition can go untreated for lengthy periods of time.
If you do get symptoms, they may include the following.
You can also get an infection in your rectum if you have unprotected anal or oral sex, which can cause pain or discharge. Eye infections can occur too, and may trigger swelling, pain and discharge. Throat infections can also develop, but they don’t tend to result in symptoms.
Symptoms of gonorrhoea usually show within two to five days of exposure, but it may be up to ten days before you get symptoms. If you’re made aware of a sexual partner who has had a confirmed case of gonorrhoea, you should get tested.
Yes. Without treatment, gonorrhoea can spread elsewhere in the body and lead to serious complications. And the more occasions on which you get gonorrhoea, the higher the risk of severe problems. If you’re a woman, gonorrhoea can infect the reproductive system and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It’s reckoned that this occurs in between 10 and 20% of women who don’t receive treatment. PID can result in pelvic pain, infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Gonorrhoea can also lead to miscarriage, your baby being born with conjunctivitis and premature labour if you’re pregnant. And there’s a risk of permanent eye damage if the baby isn’t treated promptly. In men, the infection can trigger a painful infection in your testicles and the prostate gland too, which can affect your fertility.
Some types of gonorrhoea can be harder to treat, which can have an effect on your health and wellbeing.
As well as the physical aspect of gonorrhoea, being diagnosed with an STI can have an emotional impact too. You may experience feelings of embarrassment, guilt or a loss of self-confidence (or all three), particularly when informing any sexual partners. It’s important that you speak to any sexual partners who may have been exposed to the infection so that they can also seek treatment if they have it. Gonorrhoea is very common, and it’s usually easy to treat.
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Epidemiology of gonorrhoea: a global perspective. Sexual Health, [online] 16(5), p.401.
Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7064409/
Registered with GMC (No. 4624794)
Meet DanielRegistered with GPhC (No. 2202465)
Meet SanjedaRegistered with GPhC (No. 2070724)
Meet CraigRegistered with GPhC (No. 2070338)
Meet RuaraidhAlways read the leaflet that comes with your medication and tell us about any side effects you get.
We know health, but you know you.
Our experts tell you what’s safe, but you decide what’s best.
Answer a few questions and tell us about yourself. Get tailored advice from our clinicians so you can choose better.
Choose your treatment and how often you have it delivered.
We know things change. It’s the nature of life. We’ll check in regularly to make sure your treatment is still right for you.
Pause. Change. Skip. Start again. Any time you like.
Here are some other things we can help with.
Choose from our range of tablets and solutions. Get ongoing care and support from our experts.
Stop smoking treatments that can help you kick the habit forever, and reduce your risk of disease.
Tablets or injections. Tailored weight loss treatments combined with ongoing support from our experts.
We're making healthcare more about you. Sign up to our newsletter for personalised health articles that make a difference.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
We couldn't find what you're looking for.
Here's everything we treat. Or, if you're looking for something we don't have yet, you can suggest something.
If you made a mistake on the gender selection, you can amend this by pressing 'Cancel' below and changing your gender. If you entered the correct gender but made a mistake on the treatment category selection, you can choose a different category by pressing 'Choose other treatment' below.
You have recently requested a change to your treatment plan which is under review.
We'll let you know once our clinician has reviewed your request.
Our prescriber has already made treatment suggestions for you
You can view and select an option from your account.
You already have treatment for under review.
You have a consultation being reviewed. Our prescriber will contact you soon.
You already have a treatment plan for on pause. You can restart or make changes to this from your account.
Submit your question here, or tell us if you’ve found an issue on our site.
We’ll get back to you very soon. We aim to respond to all queries in one working day.
You’re signed up to our newsletter. Keep an eye on your inbox for our latest update.
By clicking 'Subscribe now' you're agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
Your order is on hold because we need to verify your identity.
You have an order on hold because we couldn’t take your payment. To continue, please add a new payment method.