When and where can you get tested for gonorrhea (“the clap”)?

It can be a good idea to have a gonorrhea test if there are typical symptoms such as a pus-like or watery discharge from the penis, vagina or anus (bottom). Tests are also recommended for people who have a sexual partner with gonorrhea.

Experts recommend regular testing for people who have an increased risk of infection (for example, because they have sex with a lot of different partners) even if they don’t have any symptoms. If a woman who has an increased risk becomes pregnant, she will be advised to have tests done during the pregnancy because a gonorrhea infection could put the baby at risk. People generally have to pay for these tests themselves.

The test involves taking samples. Typically, a cotton swab or small brush is used to take mucous membrane cells from parts of the body that gonococcus bacteria tend to infect – like the urethra (urine tube) or cervix (the opening between the vagina and the womb). Bacteria can also be found in the throat or rectum (the end part of the bowel), depending on the type of sex that led to the infection. So it’s important to say if you had oral or anal sex so that they can take a sample from your mouth or anus too. The test doesn’t usually hurt. When taking samples from the urethra, it's important to wait at least two hours after your last pee.

In men, gonorrhea in the urethra can also be detected using a urine test. It is best to use first-catch urine (the first urine that comes out when you pee) for this so the bacteria don’t get flushed out. This means the urine test also shouldn’t be done earlier than two hours after your last pee. Your first pee in the morning is particularly good for testing. A urine test on its own isn’t a good idea for women, though. This is because it wouldn’t detect the bacteria if they were only in the cervix, for example.

If there's reason to suspect that the bacteria have spread to other parts of your body, more testing might be needed – like a blood test or ultrasound scan. Tests for other STIs are usually offered at the same time. These include an HIV test.

Please note that some of the following information describes the situation in Germany specifically. You may find that things are different in other countries.

The tests can be done by dermatologists, urologists and gynecologists. Other doctors, like some family doctors, offer them too.

It can take courage to talk openly with a doctor about sex and any STIs you might have caught. It is important to remember that doctors aren’t allowed to share this information – just like any other information about your health. Apart from in the state of Saxony, gonorrhea cases generally don’t have to be reported to the authorities in Germany. If the gonococcus bacteria turn out to be resistant to antibiotics (the antibiotics don't work), the Robert Koch Institute has to be informed so they can keep track of resistance levels. In both cases, the name of the infected person is not passed on.

If you have typical symptoms or there is a specific reason to suspect you might have gonorrhea, statutory health insurers pay for the test.

Tests for gonorrhea and other STIs are also offered by local health departments, sexual health clinics and "checkpoints" of the German AIDS Service organization (Deutsche Aidshilfe). You can take the tests there anonymously and also get advice on things like what to do if your test result is positive. The tests cost between 10 and 35 euros. In some places, they are free. The Deutsche Aidshilfe organization has an online search tool to find test centers near you. The liebesleben.de website also offers practical information and advice. It is run by Germany’s Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA).

It is also possible to get a test kit (including instructions) sent to your home. Responsible suppliers will advise you beforehand – typically by phone – and explain how the test works. You take the samples yourself and send them to a lab for analysis. If the result is negative, you’ll usually receive a text message telling you that within a few days. If it’s positive, reputable suppliers will contact you again to provide advice and tell you how and where you can get treatment. These types of tests cost between 50 and 60 euros. You have to pay for them yourself.

There are also rapid antigen (lateral flow) tests on the market, which can be used at home and provide immediate results. But experts do not recommend using these tests because they can't yet diagnose gonorrhea reliably enough.