What is the treatment for gonorrhoea?

You need to be treated for gonorrhoea if tests show that you have the infection. The treatment is with antibiotics which are usually given as a single injection. You will need to go to a sexual health clinic to receive this treatment.

Once you have had the antibiotic injection you should notice that any symptoms start to improve within a few days, but it might take a couple of weeks until they clear up completely.

You should avoid having sex for 7 days after you and your partner have both been treated, to make sure the treatment has cleared the infection.

The clinic where you received your treatment may do another test once you have been treated to check that the treatment has been effective (test of cure).

Written by Dr Paula Baraitser. Medical Director, SH:24