3 Easy Steps
Book a Consult
Have Testing
Get Results
Gonorrhoea: Testing and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Dr Vafa Derakshan, MBBS, FRACGP · AHPRA MED0001663310 · Last reviewed: 23 September 2026
Gonorrhoea is a common bacterial STI, and it's rising. NSW recorded 14,046 gonorrhoea notifications in 2024, the highest number in a decade. Many infections have no symptoms, so regular testing matters.
Symptoms
Gonorrhoea can cause discharge from the penis or vagina and pain when you pee. But around 80% of vaginal infections have no symptoms, and most throat and anal infections have none either.
How you're tested
A urine sample or self-collected swab, plus throat and anal swabs where relevant. We send a bulk-billed pathology request to your phone for any local collection centre.
Treatment: why it needs an in-person visit
Because gonorrhoea has become resistant to many antibiotics, Australian guidelines recommend an antibiotic injection plus antibiotic tablets. Guidelines also recommend a swab for culture before treatment, to check which antibiotics will work. Both need to happen in person, so gonorrhoea can't be fully treated by telehealth. If you test positive, we'll explain your results and refer you to a local GP or public sexual health clinic for treatment, which is often free.
Partners and retesting
Partners from at least the last 2 months should be tested and treated. You can tell them anonymously through Let Them Know. Guidelines recommend a test of cure 2 weeks after treatment and a repeat test at 3 months.
Why treatment matters
Untreated gonorrhoea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and inflammation of the testicles. Rarely, it spreads through the body, causing a rash or joint pain.
When to be seen urgently
Pelvic pain, fever, testicular pain or swelling, or a rash with painful joints need prompt in-person care. If you're very unwell, call 000.
Frequently asked questions
Can gonorrhoea be treated online?
Not fully. Australian guidelines recommend an antibiotic injection plus antibiotic tablets, and a culture swab before treatment. We'll arrange a referral to a local GP or sexual health clinic.
Why does gonorrhoea need an injection?
Gonorrhoea has developed resistance to many antibiotics, so guidelines use an injected antibiotic that still works reliably, plus a second antibiotic by mouth.
Is gonorrhoea testing bulk billed?
For eligible Medicare card holders, the consultation is bulk-billed and standard gonorrhoea tests are covered by Medicare.
Do I need another test after treatment?
Yes. Guidelines recommend a test of cure 2 weeks after treatment, and another test at 3 months because reinfection is common.
Sources: ASHM Australian STI Management Guidelines: Gonorrhoea; NSW Health: NSW STI Surveillance Report 2024.
