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Gonorrhea in the throat symptoms: What are the early signs of gonorrhea in the throat?

Medically reviewed by Josephine Bawab, Pharm.D.
Licensed Pharmacist
Updated Jan. 23, 2024  •  Published Jan. 23, 2024
Fact Checked
Gonorrhea in the throat symptoms: What are the early signs of gonorrhea in the throat?

Overview: What does gonorrhea in the throat feel like?

Gonorrhea is a bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is spread in the semen, pre-ejaculatory fluid, vaginal fluids, and possibly saliva. People catch the infection through unprotected vaginal sex, anal sex, and oral sex. The bacteria can infect the penis, vagina, urethra, cervix, tubes connected to the testicles, anus, rectum, throat, or eyes. It depends on how people come in contact with the gonococcal bacteria. For gonorrhea of the throat, people contract the infection through unprotected oral sex. However, researchers believe that kissing may also be a common way to spread the infection. 

In most people, gonorrhea of the throat will have no symptoms. Some people may never know about the infection. Untreated oral gonorrhea typically lasts around four months without treatment, though people are contagious for that entire time. When symptoms do occur, the most common problems experienced are sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Even though gonorrhea of the throat usually has no symptoms, people with oral gonorrhea sometimes develop gonococcal infections elsewhere in the body. Symptoms of an infection elsewhere, such as a burning sensation when peeing, urethral discharge, or vaginal discharge, may be what gets them to seek treatment.

Key takeaways:

  • Gonorrhea in the throat is a common health condition that can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, race, or ethnicity. 

  • Early signs of gonorrhea in the throat may include sore throat or swollen lymph nodes, but most cases have no symptoms.

  • Serious symptoms of gonorrhea in the throat, such as high fever, joint pain, or symptoms of sepsis, may require immediate medical attention.

  • Gonorrhea in the throat is caused by an infection of the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. You may be at risk for developing symptoms of gonorrhea in the throat if you have unprotected oral sex, have multiple sexual partners, have unprotected sex, or have a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

  • Gonorrhea in the throat usually requires a medical diagnosis.

  • Gonorrhea in the throat generally requires treatment. Symptoms of gonorrhea in the throat typically resolve within a few days of treatment.

  • Treatment of gonorrhea in the throat may include antibiotics. Read more about gonorrhea in the throat treatments here.

  • Untreated gonorrhea in the throat could result in complications, such as systemic gonorrhea, sepsis, meningitis, dermatitis, and arthritis.

  • Use coupons for treatments of gonorrhea in the throat, such as ceftriaxone, Zithromax (azithromycin), and doxycycline, to save up to 80%.

What are the early signs of gonorrhea in the throat?

90% of people with gonorrhea in the throat will have no symptoms. It’s possible to never know that one is infected. When signs of gonorrhea in the throat do appear, the most common symptoms are sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. 

Other symptoms of gonorrhea in the throat

Most people with gonorrhea in the throat will have no symptoms. Possible symptoms may include:

  • Sore throat

  • Swollen neck glands

  • Fever

  • Redness at the back of the throat

A significant fraction of women and men with gonorrhea in the throat will contract gonorrhea infections elsewhere, such as their cervix, urethra, or penis. Some of these infections don’t often have symptoms as well. Common symptoms of a gonorrheal infection include:

  • Urethral discharge (in men)

  • Pain in the testicles or scrotum (in men)

  • Pain during urination

  • Vaginal discharge (in women)

  • Irregular bleeding (in women)

  • Anal discharge

  • Anal soreness

  • Anal bleeding

  • Painful bowel movements

Because so many types of gonorrhea infections are asymptomatic, people who are sexually active and at risk for infection should regularly get tested.

Gonorrhea in the throat vs. strep throat symptoms 

Both gonorrhea in the throat and strep throat are bacterial infections of the throat. Gonorrhea of the throat, however, typically has no symptoms. Strep throat is much more symptomatic and can significantly interfere with daily life. Both of these conditions are contagious diseases, but strep throat is spread through respiratory droplets. Coughing, sneezing, and even talking can pass a strep infection from one person to another. Gonorrhea of the throat is primarily caught through oral-genital sex. It cannot be caught when someone sneezes, coughs, or touches contaminated objects.

**TABLE**

RELATED: Strep throat treatments and medications

When to see a doctor for symptoms of gonorrhea in the throat

Whether there are symptoms or not, see a doctor or get tested if you suspect you have gonorrhea or any other type of STI. Gonorrhea is highly transmissible, even when only the throat is affected. Gonorrhea infections also increase the risk of contracting another STI, such as HIV.

Gonorrhea infections normally don’t require emergency treatment unless the infection gets into the blood and spreads to the rest of the body. 

Healthcare professionals diagnose gonorrhea based on the symptoms, medical history, sexual history, and physical exam. Many of the urine tests used to identify a cervical or urethral gonorrhea infection aren’t able to be used to diagnose a throat infection. Instead, the doctor will probably take a scraping or swab from the throat, culture it, and examine it for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that cause gonorrhea.

Complications of gonorrhea in the throat

In uncommon cases, untreated gonorrhea infections of the throat can spread to the blood and affect other parts of the body, a condition called disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). A DGI can be life-threatening. Complications include bacteremia, meningitis, heart infection, skin lesions, joint swelling, and septic arthritis. Get urgent or immediate medical care if you notice symptoms of DGI, including:

  • Fever

  • Chills

  • Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness

  • Tendon pain or swelling

  • Skin rash

How to treat gonorrhea in the throat symptoms

Gonorrhea is curable. Healthcare professionals treat gonorrhea of the throat with injected and oral antibiotics. The standard treatment is a single intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone, followed by oral azithromycin or doxycycline. 

Sexual partners will also need to be treated. In some states, the clinician will write a prescription for the sexual partner without seeing the person and give that prescription to the person being treated. People who are being treated for gonorrhea should not have sex with their partner or other people until both they and their partner have successfully completed treatment.

Follow-up retesting is a significant part of treatment because reinfection is common. Healthcare professionals will advise getting another STD test three to six months after the end of gonorrhea treatment.

Gonorrhea in the throat should not be treated with home remedies, mouthwash, supplements, or over-the-counter medications. Only prescription antibiotics can eradicate the infection.

Signs gonorrhea in the throat is getting better

Treatment for throat gonorrhea is usually a one-week regimen of antibiotics. Symptoms will start improving after the first shot. However, continue taking oral antibiotics for the full duration of the prescription to completely eradicate the infection. At the end of treatment, a healthcare provider will often retest to ensure that the treatment was successful.

Living with recurrent gonorrhea in the throat

People who are treated for gonorrhea in the throat are at risk for new gonorrhea infections. These can be prevented through a few simple measures:

  • Practice safe sex—use condoms or dental dams

  • Use diaphragms to protect against cervical gonorrhea

  • Limit the number of people you have sex with

  • Avoid having sex with people who have signs of an STD

  • Get counseling if you have multiple sex partners or engage in high-risk sexual activity

  • Get regular STD screening tests to protect your sexual health

Most importantly, get tested

If there’s any reason to worry about having contracted an STD, then that’s a good enough reason to get tested. Anyone who is sexually active can contract an STD. Some behaviors add to the risk, such as having multiple sex partners, sex partners with a history of STDs, or engaging in unprotected sex. People who engage in high-risk behaviors are urged to get tested every three to six months. Even people who are not engaged in high-risk behaviors should get tested. Infections like gonorrhea frequently don’t have symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all sexually active women younger than 25 years of age get yearly gonorrhea tests.

What’s next? Additional resources for people with gonorrhea in the throat symptoms

Test and diagnostics

Treatments

Scientific studies and clinical trials

Medically reviewed by Josephine Bawab, Pharm.D.
Licensed Pharmacist

Josephine Bawab, Pharm.D., graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy. She began working in community pharmacy in 2012 and has worked for multiple chain pharmacies since then. She is passionate about helping patients and precepting students. She currently works and resides in Virginia, where she is just a few minutes away from the beach.

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