What is a gonorrhea test?

A gonorrhea test looks for signs of a gonorrhea bacterial infection in a sample of your urine (pee) or saliva. Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Anyone can get gonorrhea if they have vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone who has the infection.

The bacteria often infect the genitals, but it can infect the rectum, throat, eyes, and other parts of the body. Your health care provider will test for a gonorrhea infection using a sample of your body fluid. The fluid used depends on the type of gonorrhea test and where the infection may be. They may collect a sample from the:

• Urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body in males and females).
• Cervix (the lower part of the uterus).
• Vagina.
• Throat.
• Rectum (the last part of your intestine that connects to the anus).

Gonorrhea often has no symptoms, so you may spread it to others without even knowing you have the infection. Gonorrhea can be passed to a baby during childbirth if the mother is infected. In babies, the infection usually affects the eyes.

Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics. But if it's not treated, it can lead to serious health problems including blood infection, especially in babies.

In the female reproductive system, gonorrhea can cause:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Infertility or ectopic pregnancy
• Long-term pelvic pain

In the male reproductive system, gonorrhea can cause:

• Pain in the testicles
• Infertility (uncommon)

In babies, gonorrhea can cause:

• Blindness
• Joint infections

A gonorrhea test can help you catch the infection early so you can get treatment before you develop lasting health problems or spread it to others.

Other names: GC test, gonorrhea DNA probe test, gonorrhea nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), GC culture

What is it used for?

A gonorrhea test is used to:

• Screen for a gonorrhea infection when you don't have symptoms but may have been exposed to the bacteria.
• Diagnose or rule out gonorrhea when you have symptoms.

Gonorrhea testing is often done with a test for chlamydia, another type of sexually transmitted infection. That's because gonorrhea and chlamydia have similar symptoms, and it's common to have both infections at the same time. You may also be tested for syphilis and/or HIV.

Why do I need a gonorrhea test?

You may need a gonorrhea test if you're sexually active and have symptoms of an infection or are at high risk for one. If you have symptoms, a test can diagnose or rule out gonorrhea. Symptoms may include:

• An unusual discharge (fluid) from the genitals (vagina or penis).
• Pain or burning when urinating (peeing).
• Rectal symptoms, such as itching, bleeding, and anal discharge.
• Pain in the lower abdomen (belly).
• Sore throat (uncommon).
• Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods.
• Pain, tenderness, or swelling in the testicles or scrotum.
• Eye symptoms, such as pain and/or itching, sensitivity to light, and a pus-like fluid that drains from one or both eyes.

However, you may have a gonorrhea infection without any symptoms. Because of this, medical experts recommend yearly screening tests for those who are at higher risk of getting gonorrhea. You have a higher risk if you're sexually active and:

• Are a woman younger than 25 years old.
• Are a man who has sex with men (MSM).
• Have HIV. If you have HIV, you should be tested for gonorrhea the first time you see your provider for HIV care. After that, you should be tested at least once a year. But you may be tested more often if your sexual activity increases your risk for getting gonorrhea.

If you don't have any symptoms, you may also need a gonorrhea test if you:

• Have a new sex partner.
• Have more than one sex partner.
• Have a sex partner who has sex with others.
• Have a sex partner who has an STI.
• Engage in sex work.
• Don't use condoms correctly every time you have sex.

If you are pregnant and younger than age 25, you should have a gonorrhea test early in your pregnancy. If you are older than age 25, ask your provider if you need to be tested.

If you are a man with no symptoms and a low risk of infection, medical experts don't suggest routine testing for gonorrhea.

Your need for testing also depends on your personal risk of getting gonorrhea. Some people may need to be tested more than once a year. So, ask your provider what's best for you.

What happens during a gonorrhea test?

To do a gonorrhea test, you will need to provide a sample of fluid from the part of your body that may be infected. There are two ways to gather the sample:

• A first-catch urine sample. You use a sterile cup to collect urine from the very first part of your urine stream. To get an accurate test result, you will need to stop urinating for two hours before the test.
• A swab sample. Your provider will use a special swab or brush to gather fluid and cells, usually from the genital area (the urethra or the vagina). In certain cases, the rectum, cervix, throat, or eyes may be swabbed. Your provider may give you the option to swab yourself following special instructions.

Some types of gonorrhea tests can be done with an at-home STI test kit. The kit includes a container for collecting a urine sample to send to a lab for testing. Ask your provider if at-home testing is right for you.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

Your provider will tell you how to prepare for your test. If you are taking antibiotics, let your provider know.

• For a urine test, you may need to avoid urinating for two hours before the test.
• If you have a cervical or vaginal swab, you may need to avoid vaginal douches or creams for a day before the test.

Are there any risks to the test?

There are no known risks to having a gonorrhea test. You may feel brief discomfort if you have a swab sample taken from the urethra at the tip of the penis. You may also feel discomfort from a cervical swab and/or experience vaginal bleeding or other discharge.

What do the results mean?

• A negative (or normal) test result means that a gonorrhea infection wasn't found in your sample. But it doesn't rule out gonorrhea. After you are infected with gonorrhea, it may take weeks before you test positive. So, it's possible that the test was taken too soon after your exposure to the bacteria.
• A positive (or abnormal) test result means that you are infected with the gonorrhea bacteria. You will need treatment with antibiotics right away. You will also need to tell your sex partner or partners so that they can be tested and treated if necessary.

To make sure your infection is cured, take all your medicine following your provider's instructions. You should also avoid having sex for at least 7 days and take another test three months after completing treatment. To prevent any future gonorrhea infections, take appropriate precautions whenever having sex. These include:

• Having sex with only one partner who has tested negative for STIs and has sex only with you.
• Using condoms correctly every time you have sex.

Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.

Is there anything else I need to know about a gonorrhea test?

Some types of gonorrhea bacteria are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics. This means that the bacteria have "learned" how to survive those antibiotics, so the medicines no longer work. If your symptoms don't improve after treatment, your provider may order an antibiotic "susceptibility test." This test can show which antibiotic will work best to clear up your infection.

If you have questions about your results, talk with your provider.