Gonorrhea Test: Why It Is Done

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Why It Is Done

Tests for gonorrhea are done to:

• Determine if a gonorrhea infection may be causing symptoms such as painful urination, anal itching or bleeding, vaginal bleeding after intercourse, or abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina.
• Screen women who have a high risk for a gonorrhea infection. Because a gonorrhea infection does not always cause symptoms, screening is important. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends routine gonorrhea screening for:
  • Women with high-risk sexual behaviors.
  • Pregnant women who have an increased risk for a gonorrhea infection.
• Check for infection in a newborn whose mother had gonorrhea at the time of delivery.

Because testing for chlamydia is recommended for all pregnant women, many health professional also screen pregnant women for gonorrhea. Treating a pregnant woman who has a gonorrhea infection can prevent an infection in her newborn. Screening is often done at the first prenatal visit. An additional test may be done during the last 3 months of pregnancy.

In some cases, gonorrhea tests may be done to determine if a recently treated infection has been successfully treated. This is not routinely necessary unless gonorrhea has occurred during pregnancy or your sex partner was not treated.

Last updated:	May 09, 2007
Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC