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Genital gonorrhea can be diagnosed in a number of ways, including with a urine test or a swab of your genitals or mouth.
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A urine sample can be used to test for genital gonorrhea in people of any anatomy.
A urethral swab may be used to test for genital gonorrhea in people who have a penis. An endocervical or vaginal swab may be used to test for genital gonorrhea in those with a vagina.
You can use a mouth or throat swab to test for oral gonorrhea. An anal or rectal swab can be used to test for anal gonorrhea.
Gonorrhea, also known as “the clap” or “the drip,” is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. It can target moist areas of the body, including the genitals, rectum, throat, uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and eyes.
Like other STIs, gonorrhea doesn’t appear *poof* out of nowhere. Instead, it’s transmitted when a person without gonorrhea comes into contact with the area where another person has gonorrhea.
If, for example, person A has throat gonorrhea and goes down on person B, the infection could be transmitted to person B’s genitals. (Yes, oral STIs are a thing.)
Likewise, if partner A has genital gonorrhea and scissors with person B, the infection could be transmitted to person B’s genitals.
To narrow down at-home gonorrhea tests for this list, we dove into patient feedback, cost, result accuracy, result timeline, and ease of use.
Next, we broke them down into the categories like “best on a budget” and “most comprehensive” so that you can find the best at-home gonorrhea test for you. We also thoroughly vetted the brands and products in this roundup to make sure you get the best quality and experience.
As you scroll down, you’ll notice that each of the four at-home gonorrhea tests below also tests for chlamydia. That’s because both bacterial infections are often asymptomatic, but present with similar symptoms when symptoms are present.
General price ranges with dollar signs ($ to $$$) are indicated below. One dollar sign means the product is rather affordable, whereas three dollar signs indicate a higher price range.
Pricing guide:
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The name of this kit may be a little cringe, but it’s overall the best get for vagina-havers.
Why? Because it tests for gonorrhea in the vagina, as well as the throat, using the vaginal swab and throat swab.
Here’s why that’s so important: Oral STIs are indeed a thing, and a thing anyone who engages in oral sex is at risk of. But most doctors (and at-home tests) don’t collect throat samples — due to a combination of the oral sex stigma and lack of knowledge — which leaves many individuals with a false understanding of their own STI status.
The Nurx Healthy V Kit also tests for:
In addition to the swabs, the kit also comes with a lancet so you can collect a blood sample to test for syphilis and HIV.
Recommended for those with a vagina who haven’t been tested for STIs in over a year — as well as those who have been experiencing symptoms — the Healthy V Kit is a great one-stop shop.
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This at-home test by well-known STI testing brand Everlywell is the ultimate double-whammy: It tests for both chlamydia and genital gonorrhea using the same urine sample.
Request this package online and you’ll receive a kit with all the instructions and materials you need for sample collection in the mail.
Basically, you pee into a green cup. Then, squirt the pee into the urine sample tube using the included pipette. Finally, you put the sample tube into a biohazard bag before putting the whole thing into a prepaid return bag.
You’ll receive your results within a few days through the Everlywell patient portal.
If you receive a positive test, you’ll have the opportunity to talk with a healthcare professional about next steps (like antibiotics) at no additional cost.
For a more encompassing test, Everlywell also has a full at-home STD test available for $149 that tests for multiple types of STDs at once.
Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.
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Once more for the people in the back: It’s possible to have gonorrhea of the genitals, rectum, or throat. That means if you engage in anal or oral play with a person who is STI-positive or whose current STI status you don’t know, it’s wise to get tested in all three locations.
MyLab Box 3-Site allows you to do just that! This box also tests for chlamydia in all three locations.
Collection for the test has three parts, but from start to finish, it shouldn’t take you more than 5 minutes.
First, you’ll pee into a little tube. Next, you’ll swab your anus. Finally, you’ll swab your throat. (Don’t worry, neither the anal nor throat swabs are painful).
Once you’ve collected your samples, you’ll ship them off to the laboratory using a pre-addressed and pre-paid envelope. And you’ll receive your secure results within a matter of 2 to 5 weekdays.
If you test positive, you’ll receive info on how to obtain a free (yes, free!) telemedicine consultation with a doctor in your state. This doctor may be able to prescribe treatment for chlamydia or gonorrhea, depending on what you test positive for.
They’ll also tell you when you should be retested after treatment to confirm that the infection is gone.
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LetsGetChecked offers three STD tests in the above price range:
The Simple 2 uses a urine sample. The Standard 5 and Complete 8 use urine and finger prick blood samples.
After activating your kit and collecting your samples in the morning, you’ll send them back for laboratory testing in an envelope with a prepaid label. Easy-to-read results will be sent to your secured online account within 2 to 5 days.
If any of your test results come back positive, you can request a virtual consultation with a healthcare professional who can prescribe medication, for $39 per visit.
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Symptoms usually (usually!) appear between 2 and 14 days after exposure. However, most cases of gonorrhea are asymptomatic, meaning there are no symptoms.
When someone does experience symptoms, they usually include:
- burning or pain while urinating
- yellow, white, or green discharge
- itching, soreness, or skin irritation
- abdominal, pelvic, rectal, or genital pain
Regardless of whether or not someone has symptoms, the bacteria can still be transmitted.
And not only that — the infection can progress. If untreated, gonorrhea can cause complications such as:
In short: Getting tested is imperative.
But did you know that some time needs to pass between when someone first comes into contact with gonorrhea and when they will test positive for it?
Known as the incubation period, this time ranges from 1–14 days. That’s why experts recommend getting tested for gonorrhea 2 weeks after potential exposures and then again several weeks later.
If you get tested before that, you might receive a negative result, even if you’re positive. Or, if you receive a positive diagnosis, it could be because you came into contact prior to your last sexual encounter.
If you find out the person you had sex with has gonorrhea shortly (1–3 days) after having sex with them, talk with a healthcare professional. They may be able to prescribe an antibiotic taken as a precaution against the infection. You can also talk with your partner about expedited partner therapy, or EPT. This practice has been around since 2006 because of EPT’s usefulness in reducing gonorrhea reinfection rate.
All of the tests we’ve reviewed for this roundup are analyzed in Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified laboratories. However, they may use different terminology in their reports.
In some instances, you may see your results indicated as positive or negative. Or, you may see words like normal and abnormal. Interpreting your results, and determining the best treatment option for you, should be done by a healthcare professional.
It’s possible to be positive for multiple conditions. No matter what your results are, don’t start or stop using medication until you speak with a healthcare professional.
Getting test results back can be confusing, or, let’s face it, even scary. Every test on this list gives you the option of quickly connecting with a healthcare professional at no or low cost.
Take advantage of that, and check in with someone who can calmly explain your results to you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Take notes if you need to.
And don’t end the consultation until you’re completely clear about what’s going on and what you need to do next. If you already have a doctor you trust, you can also give them a call to discuss your results.
At-home tests should be discreet, reliable, and accurate. When you’re choosing the best type for you, make sure to check off these boxes:
If you’re reading this, odds are it’s because you’re on the market for an at-home gonorrhea test.
Well, you probably have questions beyond, “Which at-home gonorrhea test is best?” That’s why we put together this FAQ list.
Yes! Most at-home STI testing brands use the same type of samples as an in-office collection.
Further, at-home testing companies send your samples to the same exact labs that in-person healthcare professionals use, meaning the accuracy of the results is the same.
Again, the best time to get tested is 2 weeks after a potential exposure or if you have symptoms, and then again several weeks later.
Beyond that, however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that any sexually active person get tested at least once a year — and more often if you frequently have new sexual partners.
If you’re experiencing symptoms associated with gonorrhea, you might choose to take an at-home gonorrhea test.
However, because the symptoms of gonorrhea are similar to those of many other STIs, as well as infections like yeast infections, it may be more cost-efficient for you to take an at-home STI test that tests for multiple STIs. Or, it may be better to get tested at a doctor’s office, Planned Parenthood, a health department, or another low-cost clinic.
Yes. All the tests listed here are completely confidential and private — they have to be under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
The packaging for these tests is also discreet. The only indication of where the package is coming and going is the shipping label.
Most at-home STI testing companies have healthcare professionals on staff who will call you to discuss the next steps.
Gonorrhea can’t go away on its own. So, the first step will involve going on antibiotics, which will either include an intramuscular injection or oral dose. The exact dosage and type of medication will vary based on how much the infection has progressed.
You should also abstain from sex. A healthcare professional will tell you when it’s OK to start engaging again.
Learn more about gonorrhea treatment here.
Next, they will help you figure out how to talk with your current partner(s), as well as determine how far back in your sexual history you should be alerting folks. (Yes, talking with current and recent sexual partners is an important step.) Additionally, gonorrhea is a reportable STI, which means a positive test result should be reported in accordance with state and local regulations.
Finally, 1–2 weeks later, the healthcare professional will have you get retested for gonorrhea. This is known as test-of-cure and is important because reinfection is super common. Experts also recommend getting retested 3 months after to check for reinfection.
Knowing your current STI status, including your gonorrhea status, is imperative for being a responsible sexual citizen, as well as prioritizing your own health.
And at-home gonorrhea tests make it easier to do so, especially for people who don’t have transportation to a testing site.
Gabrielle Kassel (she/her) is a queer sex educator and wellness journalist who is committed to helping people feel the best they can in their bodies. In addition to Healthline, her work has appeared in publications such as Shape, Cosmopolitan, Well+Good, Health, Self, Women’s Health, Greatist, and more! In her free time, Gabrielle can be found coaching CrossFit, reviewing pleasure products, hiking with her border collie, or recording episodes of the podcast she co-hosts called Bad In Bed. Follow her on Instagram @Gabriellekassel.
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