Can you cure gonorrhea without going to the doctor?

An infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium causes gonorrhea, an STD.

It is the second most common STD in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people reported over 710,000 cases of gonorrhea in the United States in 2021 alone.

You may contract gonorrhea through sexual contact. Pregnant people can also pass it to the fetus when giving birth. Because gonorrhea is a bacterial infection, prescription antibiotics are the only way to treat and cure it.

Home remedies may temporarily relieve symptoms but cannot cure gonorrhea. 

Do home remedies work?

Home remedies can’t cure gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), which means you can get it through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex or through contact with fluids from the vagina or penis. 

In some people, gonorrhea may not cause symptoms, so getting tested regularly for STIs is important if you’re sexually active.

If you do experience symptoms, they may include:

• pain when peeing
• discharge from the vagina or penis that’s yellowish or greenish
• bleeding in between periods 
• itchiness and pain during bowel movements

Gonorrhea is treatable. However, if left untreated or improperly treated with antibiotics, it can lead to complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infections, and infertility. 

While natural remedies may help alleviate some symptoms of gonorrhea, there’s limited evidence to support their curative properties.

Home remedies

Let’s look at what research says about these home remedies for gonorrhea.

Garlic

Garlic has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

A 2021 review on the antibacterial properties of garlic suggests that experts might be able to harness some of the active ingredients in garlic when creating new antibacterial treatments.

Additionally, a small 2016 study involving 15 participants found that raw garlic effectively reduced Helicobacter pylori bacteria when taken with medication.

However, there’s little evidence that garlic alone effectively treats bacterial infections like gonorrhea.

Honey

Honey also has antimicrobial properties, but it’s not an alternative to antibiotics for gonorrhea.

However, dissolving raw honey in warm water may help relieve sore throat from gonorrhea infection.

A 2021 study on honey for gonorrhea found that while honey has antibacterial properties, its effects on gonorrhea are unclear.

African herbal medicines

An older study from 2012 looked into various herbs and roots, including Catharanthus roseus, motsweetswe, pig’s ear, and sekanama.

Researchers note that traditional South African healers have used these herbal remedies to relieve gonorrhea symptoms, but there’s no evidence that they represent a cure.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties, and some research suggests it may be effective against bacterial strains like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans.

However, research on apple cider vinegar’s effect on people with gonorrhea is almost nonexistent. 

Mouthwash

Some studies have looked into mouthwash for the prevention and treatment of gonorrhea.

A 2021 study found that mouthwash — specifically Listerine and Biotene brands — was ineffective against throat gonorrhea. 

Another study from 2021 looked into the role mouthwash plays in reducing the transmissibility of gonorrhea and found that mouthwash did minimize the transmission of throat gonorrhea.

However, the authors of both studies point out that extensive research on this subject and more studies are needed.

Treatment

Having gonorrhea can come with feelings of embarrassment, which can delay treatment, but it is important to do so.

If you’re uneasy about STD testing and treatment, you may want to consider at-home gonorrhea tests. The sooner you receive the diagnosis, the earlier you can start the treatment and get relief.

Healthcare professionals typically treat gonorrhea with an intramuscular antibiotic injection of 500 milligrams (mg) of ceftriaxone (Rocephin).

You’ll need to test for gonorrhea 7–14 days after the treatment and then again 3 months later.

Some people may need oral antibiotics like azithromycin or doxycycline after getting the ceftriaxone shot.

Your doctor will advise you not to have sex during treatment.

To prevent getting gonorrhea, consider:

• using a male or female condom when having vaginal, anal, or oral sex
• not sharing sex toys and washing them after every use
• getting routine STI testing

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When to speak with a doctor

You should speak with a doctor or healthcare professional if you think you’ve had sexual contact with someone who has gonorrhea or if you have other symptoms like pain when urinating and unusual genital discharge.

If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious complications, such as:

• pelvic inflammatory disease
• epididymitis
• disseminated gonococcal infection
• infertility

Summary

Gonorrhea is a treatable STD. There’s no at-home treatment for gonorrhea, and you’ll need prescription antibiotics to treat the condition. Early treatment can help prevent complications like infertility.

Home remedies can help relieve symptoms of gonorrhea, but they can’t cure it.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of gonorrhea, such as pain when urinating or a yellowish or greenish discharge from your genitals, consult with a doctor or healthcare professional, either in person or via telehealth. 

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