Gonorrhea treatment starts with the infection site, symptoms and any complications. Urogenital, throat and rectal infections do not share every treatment option. Many people have no symptoms, so a partner’s diagnosis or screening result can still require care. New oral medicines add choices for eligible uncomplicated urogenital infection, while ceftriaxone remains the standard regimen in the current CDC guideline. Your plan should also cover other infections, partners and follow-up.
People with a positive result, a diagnosed partner exposure or compatible symptoms need clinical assessment. Tell the clinician about oral and anal exposures so throat and rectal infections are not missed. Blujepa’s gonorrhea label applies from age 12 and 45 kg, with limited or no alternatives; Nuzolvence applies from age 12 and 35 kg. Both approvals are for uncomplicated urogenital disease. A younger child, pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, epididymitis or disseminated infection needs an appropriate separate pathway.
Bring the complete laboratory report rather than only a notification. The clinician reviews sampled sites, prior treatment and partner information and checks for complications.
Current CDC guidance uses ceftriaxone injection as standard treatment. The December 2025 oral approvals have product-specific eligibility and safety checks. Approval is not a reason to use an oral drug for an unlabeled site or ignore interactions.
If chlamydia has not been excluded, the clinician determines whether additional treatment is needed. HIV, syphilis and other testing may be appropriate. Discuss pregnancy prevention, vaccination and HIV prevention based on your situation.
Sex partners need evaluation and treatment. Avoid sex for seven days after treatment and until partners have been treated and symptoms have resolved. Get a written retesting and symptom-contact plan.
CDC recommends test of cure 7–14 days after treatment for pharyngeal gonorrhea. Routine test of cure is not needed for uncomplicated urogenital or rectal infections treated with recommended regimens, but new-drug or other clinical circumstances may require a specific plan. Retesting about three months later looks for reinfection and serves a different purpose. Ask which test you need and when.