Is Gonorrhoea Curable? Here’s What You Need To Know

Gonorrhoea is the second-most common STD in the UK, with positive cases increasing by a staggering 50% since 2021 alone. So, if you’re experiencing the symptoms of a gonorrhoea infection, or your test results have returned positive, you need to know the next steps to take. Our resident Medical Director, Dr Rashid Bani, explains what happens when you catch gonorrhoea, and more importantly, how it is treated. But, first things first, is gonorrhoea curable?

Yes, gonorrhoea is curable. The initial infection is cleared with a simple course of antibiotic tablets, or more usually, an antibiotic injection administered in your buttocks or thigh. Whilst these antibiotics are very effective at clearing up an infection, they unfortunately can’t undo any permanent damage if already caused by gonorrhoea (such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or reduced fertility).

Read on to learn how your immune system handles a Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, plus, if you can cure gonorrhoea without going to the doctor.

Can Gonorrhoea Be Cured?

Yes – a gonorrhoea infection is easily cured if caught early. If you have had a gonorrhoea test return a positive result, or if you have clear symptoms of an infection, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics. Antibiotics for gonorrhoea are given in one of two ways in the UK:

• One antibiotic injection, administered in the buttocks or upper thigh
• A singular antibiotic tablet, taken orally

Once taken/administered, the antibiotics will take between 3-14 days to clear up any symptoms. You must not have unprotected sexual contact with anyone until after 7 days, or until your symptoms have cleared up completely. 

It is important that your sexual partner also gets treatment if you have the infection. Otherwise, you risk catching gonorrhoea again, even if the treatment worked the first time. Learn more in this blog: How Do You Catch Gonorrhoea?

Is Gonorrhoea a Lifelong STD?

No, gonorrhoea is not a lifelong STD! Luckily, gonorrhoea is one of four STDs (including syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis) that can easily be treated with a course of antibiotics.

Which STDs Are Not Curable?

Unfortunately, some sexual infections do not yet have a cure, nor can they be treated with a course of antibiotics. Potential lifelong STDs include herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV), and human papillomavirus (HPV). These days, however, modern treatments can produce undetectable levels of virus in some cases.

Can Your Immune System Fight Off Gonorrhoea?

No, your immune system can’t fight off gonorrhoea. When your immune system detects Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria present in your body, it will send antigens to the site of the infection to try and fight it off. However, by the time your immune system has noticed the infection, gonorrhoea may have already started showing symptoms. 

Unfortunately, as humans, we don’t have an immune system strong enough to clear the infection on its own, so antibiotics are required to help treat the infection before it progresses into something worse.  

Gonorrhoea isn’t the only STD that won’t go away without antibiotics. Learn more in this blog: Can STDs Go Away On Their Own?

What Happens If Gonorrhoea Goes Untreated?

Whilst an initial gonorrhoea infection is curable, if not caught early, it could develop further health complications, including:

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID); A serious infection in the womb, ovaries, and other reproductive organs.
• Pregnancy Complications; Alongside infertility, gonorrhoea can lead to miscarriage or premature birth. 
• Newborn Conjunctivitis; If you have a gonorrhoea infection present when giving birth, you could give your baby conjunctivitis. Which, if left untreated, could cause permanent damage to eyesight.
• Epididymitis; A secondary infection which causes pain and inflammation in the testicles. 
• Gonococcal Arthritis; Where the infection spreads to joints within the body, causing pain, fever, and skin rashes.

To learn more about how long it takes for early signs of the infection to appear, read our helpful blog: How Long Does it Take For Gonorrhoea To Show Up?

Can You Cure Gonorrhoea Without Going To a Doctor?

Whilst your body can’t fight off a gonorrhoea infection on its own, there are ways to treat gonorrhoea without seeing a doctor in person. The best way to get treatment if you suspect a gonorrhoea infection is to use an at-home STD testing service, such as the postal tests available from Your Sexual Health. 

You simply gather the swabs and samples yourself at home using the kit, which you then return to your nearest letterbox in a pre-paid envelope. If your test result comes back positive, these can be discussed and actioned by your own GP – they may even be able to prescribe antibiotics over the phone. 

Get Tested With Your Sexual Health

If you’re looking for reliable, discreet, and comprehensive STD testing, choose Your Sexual Health. We have over 150+ private sexual health clinics located up and down the UK, with a range of tests to choose from. 

Prefer to test in the privacy of your own home? We also offer postal tests – simply order online, take your swabs and samples, and drop them off in a pre-paid package at your nearest post box. 

If you suspect a gonorrhoea infection, you might want to read our dedicated advice page: Gonorrhoea – Everything You Need To Know.