If you think you've been exposed, a gonorrhoea test at 117a Harley Street costs £104, with results within 3 working days. Walk in seven days a week, or book ahead.
Why is gonorrhoea becoming resistant to antibiotics?
Gonorrhoea bacteria (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) are unusually good at picking up genetic changes that let them survive antibiotics, and this has been happening in stages for decades. Doctors used to treat gonorrhoea with penicillin, then with other antibiotic classes, and each time resistance eventually caught up.
The current first-line treatment in the UK is a single ceftriaxone injection, because it still reliably clears most infections. Strains that also resist ceftriaxone are the ones making headlines as "super gonorrhoea". They matter because very few antibiotic options are left once first-line treatment stops working.
Is super gonorrhoea common in the UK?
Resistant strains remain rare here. The UK Health Security Agency monitors gonorrhoea resistance closely and has reported only a small number of cases resistant to first-line treatment.
It's still worth taking seriously. Gonorrhoea is one of the most commonly diagnosed STIs in England, and more infections mean more chances for a resistant strain to spread. That's the practical reason testing and proper treatment matter for everyone, and why the right response to the headlines is a test rather than panic.
Does having a resistant strain change my symptoms?
No. A resistant strain looks and feels exactly like ordinary gonorrhoea. Many people, especially women, have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, they typically include discharge from the penis or vagina, pain or burning when urinating, and in women, bleeding between periods. Our guide to gonorrhoea symptoms has a fuller run-through.
Symptoms can't tell you whether a strain will respond to standard treatment. Only testing makes that clear.
How does testing for gonorrhoea work?
Testing uses a urine sample, or a swab, including from the throat or rectum if you've had oral or anal sex. It costs £104, with results within 3 working days. You can walk in seven days a week at 117a Harley Street or book ahead, as part of our private STI testing in London service.
If you'd like a wider check, gonorrhoea is included in every screening package, starting with Bronze at £250. If you need an answer the same day, the FAST Screen Simple on our same-day screen covers gonorrhoea, chlamydia, HIV and syphilis for £350, with results in 6 hours. It uses a urine sample or a swab rather than a throat swab. The FAST Screen Complex (£450) adds hepatitis B and C, with all results also in 6 hours.
The table sets out what changes, and what doesn't, when a strain is resistant.
Why does a test of cure matter more with gonorrhoea?
Because of resistance, nobody can simply assume treatment has worked. UK guidance recommends a test of cure for everyone treated for gonorrhoea, whether or not symptoms have settled. The retest is done 2 weeks after treatment, using a urine or swab test, and it confirms the antibiotic actually did its job.
If the repeat test is still positive, the infection may not have cleared, possibly because the strain is resistant, or there may be a new infection. Your clinician will arrange further testing and a different antibiotic if needed, ideally guided by a laboratory sensitivity result.
What should I do if I've been treated and I'm still getting symptoms?
Book a repeat test straight away. Symptoms that carry on after you've finished your antibiotics are one of the clearest signs a strain may not have responded fully. Having sex in the meantime risks passing it on. Tell your clinician you've already been treated once, because that changes which antibiotic they consider next.
How do I avoid contributing to resistance?
Three things are in your control: testing regularly if you're sexually active, taking any treatment exactly as prescribed, and going back for your test of cure. Treating yourself with leftover antibiotics, or antibiotics bought online, is one of the ways resistant strains get a foothold, because the wrong drug or dose may not clear the infection.
Partner notification matters too. If a partner has an infection that later turns out to be resistant, testing them promptly stops it circulating further.
Before and after your test
We take a urine sample or a swab, depending on your symptoms. For a urine sample, avoid passing urine for 2 hours before the test. We contact you confidentially with your results, and if you test positive, a clinician will advise on treatment and on your test of cure 2 weeks later.
If you'd rather not wait, the FAST chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine test is £124, with results in 6 hours. Our guide to same-day STI test results explains the FAST options.
Book a gonorrhoea test at 117a Harley Street: £104, results within 3 working days, confidential walk-in or booked appointments.
References
- Gonorrhoea, NHS
- UK national guideline for the management of gonorrhoea in adults, British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH)
- Gonococcal antimicrobial resistance surveillance, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- Gonorrhoea, NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries
