Is Gonorrhoea viral or bacterial?

Gonorrhoea is caused by bacteria, not a virus. The bacterium is called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial STI in the UK. Worldwide, there were an estimated 82 million new infections in adults in 2020.

Because it’s bacterial, Gonorrhoea can be treated and cured with antibiotics. But the bacteria have become resistant to some antibiotics, so it’s important to get tested and treated properly.

Bacterial STIs

Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis are caused by bacteria and can be cured with antibiotics. Trichomonas, which is caused by a parasite, can also be cured.

Viral STIs

• HIV has no cure, but with treatment most people live a long and healthy life, and someone with an undetectable viral load can’t pass it on.
• Genital Herpes has no cure. The virus stays in your body, and antiviral medicine can help with outbreaks.
• HPV is usually cleared by the body within 2 years, and there’s no treatment for the infection itself.
• Hepatitis B usually clears up on its own, but long-term Hepatitis B has no known cure. Hepatitis C can be cured with tablets in most people.

Not everyone gets symptoms. Most women and up to 1 in 10 men with Gonorrhoea don’t notice any. If you do get symptoms, they usually start around 2 weeks after infection, but they can take months to appear.

Symptoms in men

• burning pain when you pee
• fluid or discharge coming out of your penis
• sore testicles

Symptoms in women

• a yellow or greenish discharge from your vagina
• burning pain when you pee
• pain in your lower tummy
• bleeding between periods, although this is rare

Gonorrhoea can also infect the bottom, throat and eyes, causing pain, itching or discharge from the anus, a sore throat, or red, painful eyes with discharge. Infections in the throat and bottom often cause no symptoms. Read more in “How do I know if I have an anal Gonorrhoea infection?”

Gonorrhoea is spread through vaginal fluid and semen, during vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom, and by sharing sex toys. It can occasionally pass from the genitals to fingers and eyes, and from a mother to her baby during birth. You can catch it from a partner who has no symptoms.

Two studies have linked kissing with Gonorrhoea in the throat, but they had limitations, and this isn’t proven.

• In women, it can spread to the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries (pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID), which can lead to infertility and a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.
• In men, it can cause an infection in the testicles or prostate.
• In pregnancy, it can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. It can also pass to the baby’s eyes during birth, which can cause blindness if it isn’t treated.
• It can increase the risk of getting and passing on HIV.
• Rarely, it can spread through the blood to the skin or joints, which can be serious.

Gonorrhoea is usually treated with a single antibiotic injection, called ceftriaxone. Don’t have sex, including oral sex and sex with a condom, until 7 days after you and your partner have both finished treatment.

A test to check the infection has gone isn’t always needed after the injection, but it’s recommended in some cases, such as Gonorrhoea in the throat, and it’s done at least 2 weeks after treatment. Read more in “I took medication for my STI. Am I still contagious?”

Yes. Gonorrhoea has developed resistance to all the antibiotics used to treat it, including ceftriaxone, although resistant cases are still uncommon in England.

• By the end of August 2026, 88 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant Gonorrhoea had been reported in England since 2015, and 25 of them were extensively drug-resistant.
• There were 29 cases in 2025, more than double the 13 in 2024.
• Most are linked to travel to or from the Asia-Pacific region, but in 2026 there has been some spread within England.

UKHSA says Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, which could make it untreatable in future. Read more in “What is Super Gonorrhoea and should I be worried?”

• Use condoms for vaginal and anal sex, and a condom or dam for oral sex.
• Don’t share sex toys, or wash them and cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.
• Get tested once a year, and whenever you have a new partner.
• Get the MenB vaccine for Gonorrhoea if you’re offered it.

In England, the vaccine has been offered since August 2025 to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men at higher risk of Gonorrhoea. It’s expected to give around 30 to 40% protection, so condoms still matter. Read more in “England to roll out world’s first vaccine for Gonorrhoea”

Better2Know tests for Gonorrhoea with a urine sample, or a swab from the throat or bottom if you’ve had oral or anal sex. A test is reliable from 2 weeks after sex. Better2Know offers:

• Peace of Mind: tests for Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and Syphilis from 14 days after sex, with results in 2 days. You can book it at one of our clinics or order a home test kit.
• Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea home test: a urine test from 14 days after sex, with results in 2 days.
• Full Screen: tests for 7 infections, including Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, Syphilis and HIV, from 28 days after sex, with results in 3 days (5 days for the home test).

If you test before 45 days, a negative HIV result needs a repeat test. A Syphilis test in the first 3 months after sex can miss the infection, so you may need a repeat test. Not sure which test you need? Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Can Gonorrhoea go away on its own?

Don’t wait to find out. Without treatment, Gonorrhoea can cause serious problems, such as PID and infertility, so get tested and treated. Read more in “Can Gonorrhoea go away on its own?”

Is Gonorrhoea the same as the clap?

Yes. The clap is an old nickname for Gonorrhoea. Read more in “The clap and other STI names through the ages”

Should I tell my partner if I have Gonorrhoea?

Yes. Your current partner, and any recent partners, should get tested and treated too, so they don’t pass it back to you or on to others.

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection, which means it can be cured with antibiotics. But many people don’t have symptoms, and resistance to antibiotics is growing, so regular testing and prompt treatment are the best way to protect yourself and your partners.

Book a Peace of Mind screen at a clinic near you or order a home test kit. Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Not in the UK? Choose your country from the selector at the top of the page for local tests and prices.

This article originally appeared on 24 November 2023 and was last updated on 1 October 2026.

This article is general information and not a substitute for personal medical advice.

Sources

1. NHS, Gonorrhoea, reviewed 16 December 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gonorrhoea/
2. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, UK national guideline for the management of infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 2025. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/fiferetal2025britishassociationofsexualhealthandhivuknationalguidelineforthemanagementofinfection_1.pdf
3. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, Gonorrhoea patient information leaflet, revised February 2026. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/gonorrhoea_pil_screen_version.pdf
4. World Health Organization, Gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection), 22 October 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/gonorrhoea-(neisseria-gonorrhoeae-infection)
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6. Brook, Gonorrhoea. https://www.brook.org.uk/your-life/gonorrhoea/
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10. NHS, Hepatitis B, reviewed 17 November 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-b/
11. NHS, Hepatitis C, reviewed 19 March 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-c/
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14. UK Health Security Agency, 4CMenB vaccine for prevention of gonorrhoea: information for healthcare practitioners, 8 July 2025. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/4cmenb-vaccine-for-gonorrhoea-information-for-healthcare-practitioners/4cmenb-vaccine-for-prevention-of-gonorrhoea-information-for-healthcare-practitioners
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17. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, UK guidelines for the management of syphilis, 2024. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/syphilis_2024.pdf