Treatment and Prevention
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Treatments are available for gonorrhea that usually involve a single injection or a single pill. The pills are used if your doctor suspects you also have chlamydia. People with gonorrhea often have chlamydia as well. Usually a single dose of medication such as cefixime* is used to treat gonorrhea.
Fluoroquinolones, penicillins, or tetracyclines used to be effective therapies, but many of the strains of bacteria spreading today have developed resistance to these antibiotics. It is very important to take medications exactly as prescribed and to have a follow-up test 1 to 2 weeks after treatment.
Symptoms sometimes remain for a while after treatment. Men can suffer from postgonococcal urethritis (inflammation of the urethra, the tube running down the center of the penis). This condition is usually caused by chlamydia that didn't respond to an earlier treatment. Treatment with different antibiotics will usually solve this problem.
You can prevent gonorrhea in the same way you prevent any sexually transmitted infection. Wear condoms and choose your partners carefully. If you think you might already have a sexually transmitted infection, you should also avoid sex until you've talked to your doctor. Sexual partners should be referred to a doctor for evaluation even if they do not have any symptoms.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
Jeffrey Heit, MD, Internist with special emphasis on preventive health, fitness and nutrition, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.