This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Gonorrhea is a common bacterial infection, and it is one of the most reported infections in New York City. It is also curable with treatment from a clinician. Many people who have it notice nothing at all, which is why testing matters more than guessing.

This guide covers what gonorrhea is, how symptoms of gonorrhea differ by body site, why a test has to match the site of exposure, how treatment works, and what the city's own data show. It is written for everyone, whatever your gender, orientation or relationship status.

What gonorrhea is

Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The CDC says it spreads through vaginal, anal or oral sex. It can infect the urethra, the cervix, the rectum, the throat and, less often, the eyes.

This is an organism, not an ingredient, so there is no chemical profile to review. What matters in practice is where the bacteria live in the body, because that decides which symptoms appear and which test is needed.

The bacteria prefer warm, moist surfaces. That is why the CDC describes infection at several mucosal sites, and why one infection can be present in a place that was never checked.

Symptoms of gonorrhea by site

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) note that many infections cause no symptoms, especially in the throat and rectum, and often in the cervix. When symptoms do appear, they depend on the site.

Genital symptoms

In the urethra (the tube urine passes through), the CDC lists burning with urination and a white, yellow or green discharge. Some people also have swollen or painful testicles.

In the cervix, the CDC says symptoms are often mild or absent. When present, they can include more vaginal discharge than usual, burning with urination, or bleeding between periods. These can look like other common conditions, so symptoms alone do not point to a cause.

Throat symptoms

The CDC says gonorrhea in the throat usually causes no symptoms. Some people have a sore throat, but sore throats have many common causes. A person can have throat gonorrhea and feel completely well.

Rectal symptoms

Rectal infection often causes no symptoms either. When it does, the CDC lists discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements.

Eyes and other areas

Gonorrhea can also reach the eyes, causing pain, light sensitivity or discharge. Untreated infection can sometimes spread in the body. A clinician is the right person to assess any of these.

What a symptom can and cannot tell you

No symptom confirms or rules out gonorrhea. Only a test can show whether the bacteria are present. If you have discharge, burning, pain or bleeding that is new for you, a clinician can examine you and choose the right tests.

Why site-specific testing matters

Gonorrhea can live in one site and not another. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend testing the sites of exposure. That means a urine or swab test for the genitals, a throat swab for oral sex, and a rectal swab for anal sex.

A urine test alone does not check the throat or rectum. Research summarized by the CDC suggests that infections at those sites are frequently missed when only genital testing is done, partly because they so often cause no symptoms.

The CDC's guidance is to screen sexually active men who have sex with men at the sites of contact at least once a year, and every three to six months for those at increased risk. The USPSTF recommends screening for sexually active women aged 24 and younger, and for older women at increased risk.

Tell the clinician which kinds of sex you have had, without worrying about judgment. That is how they pick the right swabs. Clinics see this every day, and the questions are routine.

Timing and window periods

Tests can miss an infection that is very new. The CDC guidelines do not give one fixed window period for gonorrhea that works for everyone. A clinician can tell you whether a test now is likely to be informative, or whether to repeat it later.

How gonorrhea is tested

The CDC recommends nucleic acid amplification tests, called NAATs, as the usual method. These detect the genetic material of the bacteria in a urine sample or a swab. Research summarized in the CDC guidelines suggests NAATs are more sensitive than older methods.

Culture, where the bacteria are grown in a lab, is still used in some situations. The CDC notes it is the way to test for antibiotic susceptibility, so clinicians may use it when treatment has not worked or resistance is a concern.

The CDC also notes that tests on self-collected swabs perform well, so a clinic may ask you to collect your own sample in private.

No test is perfect, and no lab result should be treated as a promise. If your situation changes or you have new symptoms after a negative result, ask about retesting.

Is gonorrhea curable?

Yes. Gonorrhea is curable with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician. The CDC is clear on this, and most people recover fully when they are treated.

Two important points go with that answer. First, treatment clears the infection but does not prevent a new one. You can get gonorrhea again. Second, medicine does not reverse damage that has already happened, which is why finding it early helps.

The CDC says untreated gonorrhea can lead to serious problems. In people with a uterus and ovaries, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can affect fertility and cause long-term pelvic pain. In people with a penis, it can cause painful inflammation near the testicles. It can also raise the chance of getting or passing on HIV. These outcomes are why testing and treatment are worth doing, not reasons to be afraid.

Gonorrhea treatment: the CDC approach

Treatment is always decided by a clinician. This guide does not give doses or schedules. Here is the general approach the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe.

For uncomplicated gonorrhea, the CDC recommends a single injectable antibiotic from the cephalosporin family, given in a clinic.
If chlamydia has not been ruled out, the CDC says a clinician may add treatment for chlamydia, since the two infections often occur together.
Allergies, pregnancy and the site of infection can change what a clinician chooses.

The CDC advises people to avoid sex for a period after treatment, until any partners have been treated too. Your clinician will tell you exactly how long applies to you.

Test-of-cure for throat infections

For most genital and rectal infections treated with the recommended approach, the CDC does not routinely call for a follow-up test to confirm cure. Throat infection is treated differently.

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend that people treated for throat (pharyngeal) gonorrhea return 7 to 14 days after treatment for a test-of-cure. This is because throat infections have historically been harder to clear. If you are treated for a throat infection, ask your clinic to schedule that visit.

Retesting after treatment

The CDC also recommends retesting about three months after treatment for people who were treated for gonorrhea, because repeat infection is common. Retesting earlier is advised if symptoms return, since that may mean treatment did not work or that a new exposure occurred.

Treating partners

Partners need testing and treatment too, or the infection can pass back and forth. The CDC supports expedited partner therapy, where a clinician can provide treatment for a partner who has not been examined. NYC Health lists gonorrhea among the infections for which CDC recommends this approach, and New York State allows it under Public Health Law § 2312. Ask your clinician whether it fits your situation.

Antibiotic resistance and why follow-up matters

Gonorrhea bacteria have become resistant to one antibiotic class after another over the decades. The CDC says many older drugs no longer work reliably, and it lists drug-resistant gonorrhea as an ongoing public health concern.

The CDC's current recommendation relies on one class of injectable antibiotic, because other choices have lost effectiveness. Researchers and the CDC monitor the bacteria for signs of reduced susceptibility. This is the reason the guidance changes over time and the reason a clinician, not an old prescription or a friend's leftover pills, should choose treatment.

For you, the practical points are simple:

Take treatment exactly as a clinician directs.
Return for the throat test-of-cure if one is advised.
Report symptoms that continue or come back after treatment.
Do not use leftover or shared antibiotics.

What about doxy-PEP?

The CDC's 2024 guidance on doxycycline taken after sex (doxy-PEP) addresses certain bacterial infections, mainly syphilis and chlamydia. Research summarized by the CDC suggests it is less effective against gonorrhea, in part because of existing resistance. If you are interested, a clinician can talk through whether doxy-PEP fits your health history. Several New York City clinics list it as a service, and it is not a substitute for testing.

Safety, allergies and special situations

Treatment is generally well tolerated, but a clinician needs your full history. Tell them about:

Any drug allergy, especially to penicillin or related antibiotics.
Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant.
Other medicines you take.
Any past reaction to an injection.

In pregnancy, the CDC says gonorrhea can be treated, and early treatment helps protect the pregnancy and the baby. Syphilis testing is a separate matter in pregnancy. The New York State Department of Health requires at least three syphilis tests during pregnancy, and your prenatal provider handles those.

Quality indicators: choosing a testing source

Unlike a supplement or product, testing has no ingredients to check. Quality comes from where and how you test. Useful signs include:

The clinic is run by a health department, hospital or community health center.
It offers NAAT testing and can swab the throat and rectum, not only urine.
A licensed clinician reviews results and prescribes treatment if needed.
It explains follow-up, partner treatment and retesting.

This guide does not recommend any commercial test kit or brand.

Gonorrhea in New York City: what the data show

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's STI Surveillance Annual Report for 2024 counts 32,889 reported gonorrhea cases in the city, a rate of 398.27 per 100,000 people. That is the second most reported bacterial STI in the same report, after chlamydia at 760.16 per 100,000.

For the state as a whole, the CDC's 2023 STI Surveillance State Ranking Tables list a gonorrhea rate of 235.6 per 100,000 in New York State, ranked seventh among states. The city figures are for 2024 and the state figures are for 2023, so they should not be compared directly.

These are counts of reported cases. They reflect who was tested as well as who was infected, so they are best read as a sign that testing is routine and worthwhile here, not as a measure of personal risk.

NYC Health says the Health Code requires gonorrhea and several other infections to be reported to the Health Department within 24 hours. Reporting supports public health tracking and follow-up. It is a clinic and laboratory duty, not something you have to do.

Where to get tested in New York City

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene runs Sexual Health Clinics across the city. NYC Health says they are low or no cost, that adults 19 and older are asked for insurance or a sliding-scale fee, that no proof of income is required, and that no one is turned away for inability to pay. Most services are walk-in, and clinics may close early once they reach capacity.

The clinics listed on NYC Health's Sexual Health Clinics page include:

Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic and Express Clinic: 303 9th Avenue, First Floor, Manhattan. Mon to Fri 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Express Clinic has a Quickie Lab with rapid chlamydia and gonorrhea results. At the main clinic, NYC Health says to expect results in seven days.
Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic: 2238 Fifth Avenue, First Floor, Manhattan. Mon to Fri 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Fort Greene Sexual Health Clinic and Express Clinic: 295 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn. Mon to Fri 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with the Quickie Lab for rapid chlamydia and gonorrhea results.
Morrisania Sexual Health Clinic: 1309 Fulton Avenue, Second Floor, Bronx. Mon to Fri 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Jamaica Sexual Health Clinic: 90-37 Parsons Boulevard, First Floor, Queens. Mon to Fri 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Corona Sexual Health Clinic: 34-33 Junction Boulevard, First Floor, Queens. Mon to Wed and Fri 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Thu 8:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.

NYC Health lists a Sexual Health Clinic Hotline at 347-396-7959, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The page does not list a separate number for each clinic. It also notes that the Crown Heights and Riverside clinics are closed until further notice, and that no NYC Health sexual health clinic is currently listed on Staten Island. Staten Island residents can check the Health Department's clinic page for current options.

Other options include Callen-Lorde, an LGBTQ+ community health center, at 356 W 18th St in Manhattan (212-271-7200). Its site describes services regardless of ability to pay, with a sliding fee for people who are uninsured or underinsured. Sexual health visits are by appointment on weekdays with limited walk-in, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is walk-in. Callen-Lorde also lists sites in the Bronx and Brooklyn.

Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, at 312-320 East 94th Street in Manhattan (212-423-3000), serves young people ages 10 to 26. It describes its services as completely free, with walk-in hours Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hours and services can change, so confirm with the clinic or the Health Department before you go. For a fuller list organized by borough and need, see our guide to STD testing in New York City.

The CDC also runs a national locator at gettested.cdc.gov, where you can enter a ZIP code to find nearby testing sites.

Testing for young people and privacy

NYC Health says its Sexual Health Clinics serve anyone 12 or older without parental consent, regardless of immigration status. New York Public Health Law § 2305 allows a licensed physician to diagnose and treat a person under 21 who has or may have been exposed to an STD without parental consent or knowledge.

If you were just exposed

If an exposure may have involved HIV, the NYC Health 24/7 PEP Hotline is 844-373-7692. PEP is medicine a clinician can prescribe to lower the chance of HIV after an exposure, and it works best started quickly. Gonorrhea testing can be done at the same visit.

What to expect at a visit

A short, private conversation about your health and the kinds of sex you have had.
A urine sample or swabs from the sites you name. Many clinics also offer HIV testing and other STI tests at the same visit.
A way to receive results, which can take days at some clinics and less at a rapid lab.
If a test is positive, treatment arranged by the clinician, and guidance on partners and follow-up.

If you test positive, you have done the right thing by finding out. Gonorrhea is common, curable and not a judgment on anyone.

Key takeaways

Many gonorrhea infections, especially in the throat and rectum, cause no symptoms.
Testing should cover every site of exposure, not just urine.
Gonorrhea is curable with treatment from a clinician, though reinfection is possible.
The CDC recommends a test-of-cure 7 to 14 days after treatment for throat infection.
Antibiotic resistance is why treatment guidance is updated and why a clinician should choose your medicine.
New York City offers free and low-cost testing, including walk-in Sexual Health Clinics.

Gonorrhea: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in New York City