Disease & Vaccine A–Z

Diseases beginning with G

U.S.-focused summaries with current official guidance links. For a diagnosis, personal vaccine schedule, pregnancy advice, or urgent symptoms, speak with a qualified clinician.

Gonorrhea

No vaccine available

Disease

A common, curable sexually transmitted infection that can affect the genitals, rectum, throat, and sometimes the eyes.

Symptoms

Many people have no symptoms. Possible signs include burning urination, genital discharge, bleeding between periods, pelvic or testicular pain, rectal discharge or soreness, and throat symptoms.

Typical duration

The infection can persist and be transmitted until it is treated. Symptoms should improve after effective treatment, but reinfection is possible and permanent damage from an earlier untreated infection may remain.

How serious is it?

Untreated infection can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, painful testicular complications, or a life-threatening infection of the blood or joints.

Treatment & management

Gonorrhea is treated with clinician-prescribed antibiotics; CDC currently recommends ceftriaxone for uncomplicated infection in most patients. Partners need evaluation and treatment, and CDC advises retesting about three months after treatment.

Vaccine: who and when?

No gonorrhea vaccine is licensed in the United States. Antibiotics treat infection but do not create immunity, so a person can get gonorrhea again.

Check the current CDC guidance for Gonorrhea →

Cost and access: Patient cost varies by insurance, provider, location, and eligibility. Many recommended vaccines are covered with no out-of-pocket cost under qualifying plans, and eligible children may receive vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program. CDC price lists are purchasing benchmarks—not guaranteed patient prices. CDC price and program context.

Last reviewed against official U.S. sources: September 5, 2026. This page provides general education, not medical advice.