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 one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections in the United States. It is also one of the best studied. Scientists know a lot about the organism that causes it, how it behaves in different parts of the body, and why treatment has changed over the years.

This guide is a science-focused look at gonorrhea. It covers the symptoms of gonorrhea by body site, how testing works, what the CDC says about gonorrhea treatment, and the answer to a common question: is gonorrhea curable? It also covers what Austin's own numbers show and where people in Austin can get tested.

Nothing here can tell you whether you have an infection. Only a test and a clinician can do that.

What gonorrhea is: the organism behind it

Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Under a microscope it appears as paired, round cells, which is why scientists call it a diplococcus. It is gram-negative, meaning it has a thin cell wall wrapped in an outer membrane.

The bacterium prefers moist mucous membranes. In the body, these include the urethra, the cervix, the rectum, the throat and the eyes. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe gonorrhea as spread through sexual contact, and from a pregnant person to a newborn during birth.

There is no chemical formula or single compound to study here, as there would be for a supplement or an ingredient. The science is about the organism and the drugs that act against it. Three features of the bacterium shape much of what follows.

It attaches to surface cells. Research suggests that hair-like structures on the bacterium help it grip the lining of the urethra, cervix, rectum and throat.
It changes its surface. Research suggests the bacterium can alter some of its surface proteins. This may be one reason the CDC notes that a past infection does not protect a person from getting gonorrhea again.
It adapts to antibiotics. Over decades, the bacterium has developed resistance to many drug classes. This is covered in its own section below.

The CDC also notes that gonorrhea can raise the chance of getting or passing on HIV, and that it often occurs together with chlamydia. Both points matter for how clinicians test and treat.

Symptoms of gonorrhea, site by site

Many people with gonorrhea have no symptoms at all. The CDC says this is especially common with throat and rectal infections, and with genital infections in people with a cervix. When symptoms do appear, they depend on where the bacterium is living. Because the same symptoms can come from other conditions, symptoms alone cannot confirm or rule out gonorrhea.

Genital infection

In people with a penis, the CDC describes urethral infection that may cause discharge, a burning feeling when urinating, or sometimes testicular pain or swelling. Some people notice nothing.

In people with a cervix, the CDC says infection is often mild or without symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can include more vaginal discharge than usual, burning with urination, or bleeding between periods. These can be mistaken for a yeast infection or a bladder infection.

Throat infection

The CDC notes that throat (pharyngeal) gonorrhea usually causes no symptoms. Some people have a sore throat, but sore throats have many common causes. Gonorrhea can pass between the throat and the genitals during oral sex, so the throat is a real site to consider.

Rectal infection

Rectal gonorrhea may also cause no symptoms. When it does, the CDC lists discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. It can affect anyone who has receptive anal sex, whatever their gender or orientation.

When symptoms are a reason to be seen sooner

The CDC says untreated gonorrhea can lead to complications. In people with a uterus, it can spread to the reproductive organs and cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which may affect fertility. In people with testicles, it can cause epididymitis, an inflammation near the testicle. Rarely, the bacterium spreads through the bloodstream to cause joint, skin or other problems.

These outcomes are one reason clinicians encourage testing even when there are no symptoms. They are not a reason for alarm. They are why a simple test and a course of antibiotics matter.

Why site-specific testing matters

A test only looks where the sample was taken. The CDC recommends testing the sites where exposure may have happened. A urine test or genital swab will not find a throat or rectal infection, because the bacterium can live at one site and not another.

In practice, a clinician may suggest:

a urine sample or a swab for the genitals,
a throat swab if there has been oral sex,
a rectal swab if there has been receptive anal sex.

The test most clinics use is a nucleic acid amplification test, or NAAT. It looks for the genetic material of the bacterium. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe NAATs as the recommended test for most sites. For people with a vagina, the CDC says a self-collected vaginal swab is an acceptable sample.

It is fine to tell a clinician exactly which kinds of sex you have had. They need that information to pick the right samples, and clinics hear it every day.

Who is screened, and how often

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for gonorrhea in sexually active women 24 and younger, and in older women who are at increased risk. For men, the USPSTF has said there is not enough evidence to make a screening recommendation. The CDC guidelines also advise at least yearly screening at the sites of exposure for sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, with more frequent screening for those at higher risk. Pregnant people are covered by separate screening advice.

The CDC guidelines do not set a single window period for gonorrhea testing that applies to everyone. A clinician is the best person to say how soon after an exposure a test makes sense for you.

Is gonorrhea curable?

Yes. The CDC says gonorrhea is curable with the right antibiotics prescribed by a clinician. That is true for infections at the genitals, the throat and the rectum.

Two points are worth knowing:

Treatment clears the bacterium, but it does not repair any damage the infection already caused. This is another reason earlier testing helps.
Being cured does not make a person immune. Gonorrhea can come back after a new exposure, which is why retesting is part of the CDC's advice.

Gonorrhea treatment: the CDC approach

Gonorrhea treatment is always something a clinician prescribes. This page does not give doses or schedules, because the right plan depends on your test results, allergies, pregnancy status and the site of infection.

Here is how the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe the general approach:

One main recommended treatment. For uncomplicated gonorrhea, the CDC recommends an injected antibiotic from the cephalosporin class, ceftriaxone, given by a clinician.
Chlamydia is considered too. Because the two infections often occur together, the CDC says that if chlamydia has not been ruled out, the clinician may add a second antibiotic for it.
Allergies change the plan. The CDC guidelines include alternative options for people who cannot take the usual treatment. Tell your clinician about any past reaction to an antibiotic.
Pregnancy changes the choices. Some antibiotics are chosen differently during pregnancy. Say so at the visit.
Finish treatment before sex. The CDC advises waiting until treatment is complete and symptoms have gone, and until recent partners have been treated, before having sex again.

Test of cure for throat infections

For most gonorrhea, the CDC does not recommend a test of cure, which is a repeat test to confirm the treatment worked. Throat infection is the exception. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) say that people treated for gonorrhea of the throat should return for a test of cure, generally 7 to 14 days after treatment. The guidelines say this can be done with culture or NAAT, and that a positive NAAT should be followed by a culture where possible.

The reason, as the guidelines describe it, is that treatment of the throat has been less reliable than treatment at other sites, and it is important to catch any treatment failure early. If symptoms return after treatment at any site, the CDC advises going back to a clinician rather than waiting.

Retesting after treatment

The CDC recommends retesting about three months after treatment for everyone treated for gonorrhea, whatever the site. The aim is to find new infections, since repeat infection is common. Retesting at three months is separate from the throat test of cure above.

Treating partners

Recent sex partners need testing and treatment too, or the infection can pass back and forth. The CDC says expedited partner therapy, where a clinician provides treatment for a patient's partner without a separate visit, is one tool for this. CDC's legal-status page for Texas says the practice rests on Texas Medical Board and pharmacy rules rather than a statute. Under those rules, a physician may prescribe for the partner of an established patient, and an advanced practice nurse may as well. Ask your clinician whether it is an option for you.

Antibiotic resistance: why treatment has narrowed

The CDC describes gonorrhea as a bacterium that has repeatedly developed resistance to the antibiotics used against it. Over the past decades, several drug classes that were once reliable stopped working well enough to be recommended. This is why the CDC guidelines now name one primary regimen rather than a menu of choices.

The CDC monitors resistance through national surveillance. Its guidelines also say that new treatment failures should be reported and investigated. Research suggests two practical lessons:

Antibiotics for gonorrhea should come from a clinician who follows current guidelines. Leftover pills or advice from a friend can fail and may contribute to resistance.
Follow-up matters. The test of cure for the throat and the three-month retest are partly about catching resistant or persistent infections.

What about doxy-PEP?

In 2024, the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex, called doxy-PEP. The CDC recommends that clinicians discuss it with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and with transgender women, who have had a bacterial STI in the past 12 months. CDC reviews of the research found it lowered syphilis and chlamydia infections more clearly than gonorrhea. The CDC also raised concern that wider antibiotic use could add to resistance. Doxy-PEP is a prevention tool prescribed by a clinician. It is not a treatment for a gonorrhea infection you already have.

Safety profile and when to talk to a clinician first

Treatment for gonorrhea is widely used and generally well tolerated, but no medicine is right for everyone. These are situations the CDC guidelines treat as reasons to give the clinician fuller information:

a past allergic reaction to penicillin, cephalosporins or other antibiotics,
pregnancy or breastfeeding,
symptoms that suggest a spread of the infection, such as pelvic or testicular pain, fever, or joint pain,
symptoms that continue or return after treatment,
a recent exposure to HIV, in which case a clinician can discuss HIV testing and prevention options at the same visit.

Anyone can get gonorrhea. It is a bacterial infection, not a reflection of a person's character or choices, and every gender and orientation is affected.

What the numbers say in Austin

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Texas STD Surveillance Report, 2022 Annual Report, counted 4,661 reported gonorrhea cases in Travis County. That is a rate of 351.4 per 100,000 people. For all of Texas that same year, DSHS reported 62,174 cases, a rate of 207.0 per 100,000.

The two figures come from the same report and the same year, so they are comparable. Travis County's reported rate was higher than the statewide rate. These are reported cases, so they reflect both how many infections occur and how much testing is done. A higher number can partly mean that more people are getting tested.

Under the Texas DSHS Texas Notifiable Conditions list for 2026, gonorrhea is a notifiable condition. Labs and clinicians report it to public health within one week. Reporting supports surveillance and partner follow-up.

Where to get tested in Austin

Austin has several places to get tested, and some are free or low cost. The best choice depends on your situation: whether you have symptoms, whether you are a UT student, whether you have insurance, and whether you need a walk-in. For a fuller comparison, see our guide to STD testing in Austin: where to get tested and what it costs.

Fees, hours and walk-in rules change. Call ahead to confirm before you go. Austin Public Health's own website carries a notice that content updates may be delayed.

Clinic	What the source says
Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic, RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, 78702. Phone 512-972-5430.	Open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. The clinic's page says: "The fee for testing and treatment is only $30." Standard tests are HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Appointments can be booked online or by phone.
Kind Clinic, Austin Koenig, 101 W Koenig Lane, Suite 100, 78751. Phone 833-937-5463.	Offers walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV and hepatitis C. Walk-in testing hours differ from general hours. Kind Clinic says patients with insurance must use it for lab work, and that its patient assistance program can help cover lab costs for those who are uninsured or cannot afford them. It is closed on observed holidays and the first Friday of every month.
Kind Clinic, Austin South, 2800 S IH 35 Frontage Rd #103, 78704.	Kind Clinic states that walk-in STI testing is not offered at this location.
CommUnityCare IDEALhealth Program, Hancock Health Center, 1000 E. 41st St., Suite 700, 78751. Phone 512-978-9015.	Lists STI and HIV testing and prevention, including DoxyPEP and the HPV vaccine. CommUnityCare says its sliding fee scale is set through a meeting with a financial eligibility specialist. Its pages do not say whether walk-ins are accepted, so call first.
ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness, 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, 78705. Phone (512) 900-3116.	Says its services are always free, though there may be costs for medication. It does not accept walk-ins, so call or email first. Its services page says STI treatment is only for ASHwell patients.
Vivent Health Austin, 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, 78752. Phone (512) 458-2437.	Vivent's own page says HIV testing is free and confidential. The CDC's National Prevention Information Network listing also lists free STI testing at this site. Call for walk-in hours or to make an appointment.
UT Austin University Health Services, Student Services Building, Room 1.400. Phone 512-471-4955.	Serves UT Austin students. Test options include chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis, with drop-in visits and no appointment needed. UHS says drop-in is for people without symptoms; people with symptoms need a provider appointment. The page does not list a price, so ask UHS.

Free testing from home

DSHS runs Test for Texas, which it describes as free mail-order self-testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Orders are placed at testfortexas.org. Check the program's own page for which sample types it uses. That matters because, as described above, a urine or genital sample does not check the throat or rectum.

The CDC also runs a national locator at gettested.cdc.gov for finding testing sites by ZIP code.

Teens and young adults

Texas Family Code Section 32.003 allows a minor of any age to consent to diagnosis and treatment of a reportable infectious disease. That covers reportable STIs and HIV, and a parent's consent is not needed for that care. The same section allows a physician to tell a parent or guardian about the treatment, with or without the minor's consent. A clinic cannot promise that a parent will never be told, so ask about the clinic's practice before you book.

What to ask at your visit

Which sites should be tested based on the kinds of sex I have had?
Which test do you use, and when will I get results?
If I am treated for throat gonorrhea, when should I come back for a test of cure?
When should I be retested?
Can my partner or partners be tested or treated too?
Do I need testing for other infections, such as chlamydia, syphilis or HIV?

Choosing a clinic that tests the right sites, uses recommended tests, and follows CDC guidance on follow-up is the best quality check available to a patient. Clinics that explain what they are testing for, and why, are usually following that guidance.

Key points

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection, and many people have no symptoms.
The CDC says it is curable with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician.
Testing should cover the sites where exposure may have happened: genital, throat, rectal.
The CDC recommends a test of cure for throat infections, and a retest about three months after treatment for everyone treated.
Antibiotic resistance is the reason treatment guidance has narrowed over time.
Austin has free and low-cost testing. Confirm hours and fees with the clinic before you go.

Gonorrhea: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Austin