What's the Treatment for Gonorrhea?

Medically Reviewed by Nayana Ambardekar, MD on May 14, 2023
2 min read

So, you (or your partner) have gonorrhea. The good news is, this common sexually transmitted disease (STD) is easily treated. And you’ll want to get treated as soon as possible. If you don’t, gonorrhea can cause a number of long-term health problems for both women and men.

If you have this STD, the CDC now recommends a single 500-mg IM dose (1000 mg in patients weighing ≥150 kg) of the third-generation ceftriaxone. The antibiotic doxycycline may be added as a precaution against possible chlamydia.

Combining oral azithromycin with either oral gemifloxacin (Factive) or injectable gentamicin may be helpful if you’re allergic to ceftriaxone. That medication is in a class of drugs known as cephalosporin antibiotics.

Never share your medication. Also, be sure to tell your doctor about any drug allergies you have, especially to antibiotics. Ask them about possible side effects and what to do if you experience any negative ones.

You and your partner should wait at least 7 days after you both finish treatment to resume sexual activity. Your doctor may advise you to follow up for testing to make sure the infection is completely gone.

Unfortunately, some types of gonorrhea bacteria don’t respond to the usual antibiotic treatment. Doctors call this “antibiotic resistance.” They’ve been seeing a rise in these stronger bacteria for several years. If you continue to have symptoms a few days after treatment, see your doctor again. They may prescribe a longer course of different antibiotics