Gonorrhea Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that affects many people in Michigan, including residents of Grand Rapids. Understanding the symptoms, risks, and where to get tested locally can help protect your health and the health of your partners.

What Is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It most commonly infects:

  • The genital tract (cervix, urethra)
  • The rectum (anus)
  • The throat
  • The eyes (rare, usually in newborns)

Gonorrhea spreads through:

  • Vaginal sex
  • Anal sex
  • Oral sex (giving or receiving)

It can affect people of all genders and ages who are sexually active.

Gonorrhea in Newborns

A baby can get gonorrhea during childbirth if the mother has an untreated infection. This can cause gonococcal conjunctivitis (red, swollen, painful eyes) and may lead to vision loss if not treated quickly. In Grand Rapids, hospitals such as Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital and Trinity Health Grand Rapids routinely screen and treat pregnant patients to reduce this risk.

Who Is at Risk of Gonorrhea in Grand Rapids?

Anyone who has unprotected sex (sex without a condom or barrier) with someone who has gonorrhea can get the infection.

People at higher risk include:

  • Men who have sex with men (MSM)
  • Female partners of men who have sex with men
  • Heterosexual men and women with:
    • Multiple sexual partners
    • New sexual partners
    • Partners whose STI status is unknown
  • People who inject drugs and share equipment
  • Sex workers and their clients
  • People with a history of other STIs (such as chlamydia, syphilis, or HIV)

In Grand Rapids and Kent County, younger adults (ages 15–29) tend to have higher STI rates. Seasonal factors, like long winters and more indoor socializing, can also contribute to closer contact and potential STI transmission.

Symptoms of Gonorrhea

Symptoms can be different for men and women, and many people have no symptoms at all. This is why regular STI testing is important in Grand Rapids, even if you feel well.

Gonorrhea Symptoms in Women

Many women with gonorrhea have no symptoms, or symptoms may be mild and easy to overlook.

Possible symptoms include:

  • Unusual vaginal discharge (may be yellow or greenish)
  • Pain or burning when urinating
  • Pain during sex
  • Bleeding between periods or after sex
  • Lower abdominal or pelvic pain (especially if infection has spread)

Gonorrhea Symptoms in Men

Gonorrhea commonly infects the urethra (inside of the penis).

Symptoms may include:

  • Burning or pain when urinating
  • White, yellow, or green pus-like discharge from the penis (often noticed in underwear)
  • Swelling or tenderness in the testicles (especially if infection is untreated)

Some men have no symptoms at all.

Oral (Throat) Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea in the throat may cause:

  • Sore throat
  • Redness or mild discomfort

However, it often causes no symptoms, especially after oral sex without protection.

Anal (Rectal) Gonorrhea

Anal gonorrhea may cause:

  • Anal itching
  • Discharge
  • Soreness
  • Painful bowel movements

But like throat infection, anal gonorrhea often has no symptoms.

Complications: Gonorrhea and Infertility

If left untreated, gonorrhea can cause serious health problems, especially for women.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

In women, untreated gonorrhea can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause:

  • Fever
  • Lower abdominal pain and tenderness
  • Deep pain during sex
  • Heavy, irregular, or painful periods

Repeated or long-term inflammation increases the risk of:

  • Infertility (trouble getting pregnant)
  • Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus)
  • Chronic pelvic pain

Women in Grand Rapids who have had PID should be especially careful to get regular testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia.

In men, untreated gonorrhea can cause:

  • Epididymitis (painful swelling of the tubes near the testicles)
  • In rare cases, reduced fertility

In both men and women, untreated gonorrhea can spread through the bloodstream and cause serious infections in joints and other organs.

How Often Should You Get Tested for Gonorrhea?

Regular sexual health check-ups are recommended for anyone who is sexually active in Grand Rapids.

General recommendation:

  • Get a full STI check (including tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV) at least once a year if you are sexually active.

More frequent testing is recommended if:

  • You are a man who has sex with men:
    • With more than one partner: every 3–6 months
    • With one regular partner but at risk: at least once a year
  • You have new or multiple partners
  • You do not always use condoms or barriers
  • You have had an STI before
  • You are a sex worker or have sex with sex workers
  • You inject drugs and share equipment

Because gonorrhea often has no symptoms, especially in women and in throat or rectal infections, routine testing is a key part of sexual health in Grand Rapids.

How Is Gonorrhea Diagnosed?

Gonorrhea testing is simple and confidential. In Grand Rapids, you can be tested at:

  • Your primary care provider or OB/GYN
  • Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health clinics
  • Kent County Health Department
  • Community health centers and college health clinics

Types of Tests

A doctor or nurse may use:

  • Urine test – you pee into a small cup
  • Swab test from:
    • Urethra (penis)
    • Cervix (inside the vagina)
    • Throat
    • Anus (rectum)

Test results are usually available within about a week, often sooner depending on the clinic.

How Is Gonorrhea Treated?

Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare provider.

  • Treatment is usually a single-dose injection and/or oral antibiotics, based on current CDC and Michigan guidelines.
  • Symptoms usually improve within a few days and are often gone within one week.

Important Treatment Tips

  • Do not have any type of sex (vaginal, anal, or oral), even with condoms, until:
    • You and your partner(s) have finished treatment, and
    • Your doctor or clinic says it is safe to resume sexual activity
  • Always complete the full course of antibiotics, even if you feel better.

Antibiotic Resistance

Some strains of gonorrhea are resistant to certain antibiotics. Your Grand Rapids provider will follow the latest guidelines to choose the right treatment. Be sure to tell your provider if you have:

  • Taken antibiotics recently
  • Traveled overseas, especially to areas with known resistant gonorrhea

Can You Get Gonorrhea Again?

Yes. Having gonorrhea once does not protect you from getting it again.

You can be reinfected if:

  • Your partner is not treated, or
  • You have sex with another person who has gonorrhea

This is why it is essential that all sexual partners are tested and treated.

Telling Your Partners (Partner Notification)

Letting your current and recent sexual partners know that you have gonorrhea is important to:

  • Protect their health
  • Prevent reinfection for you
  • Reduce STI spread in the Grand Rapids community

If you feel uncomfortable telling partners yourself:

  • Your doctor, clinic nurse, or local public health staff (such as Kent County Health Department) can help you notify partners confidentially.
  • Some services offer anonymous partner notification by phone, text, or online tools, so your name does not have to be revealed.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Gonorrhea in Grand Rapids

You can lower your risk of catching or spreading gonorrhea by:

  • Using condoms (external or “male” condoms) correctly every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex
  • Using internal (“female”) condoms for vaginal or anal sex
  • Using water-based lubricant to reduce condom breakage
  • Limiting your number of sexual partners
  • Getting tested regularly, especially if you:
    • Have new or multiple partners
    • Are a man who has sex with men
    • Have had an STI in the past
  • Avoiding sex when you or your partner have symptoms like unusual discharge, burning with urination, or genital sores, until checked by a healthcare provider

Remember: gonorrhea can be spread through unprotected oral sex, not just vaginal or anal sex.

Where to Get Help and STI Testing in Grand Rapids, MI

If you live in Grand Rapids or the surrounding West Michigan area, you have several options for confidential STI testing and treatment:

Local Healthcare Providers

  • Your primary care provider or OB/GYN
    • Many family medicine and women’s health clinics in Grand Rapids offer STI testing.
  • Major health systems:
    • Spectrum Health (Corewell Health)
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health

Public Health and Community Clinics

  • Kent County Health Department – Sexual Health Services
    Offers confidential STI testing, treatment, and partner services on a sliding fee scale.
  • Grand Rapids community health centers and college health clinics
    Many serve young adults, college students, and uninsured or underinsured residents.

If you’re unsure where to start, you can:

  • Call the Kent County Health Department or Grand Rapids Public Health services for information on free or low-cost STI testing.
  • Ask your doctor’s office directly for an “STI screening including gonorrhea and chlamydia.”

Key Points About Gonorrhea in Grand Rapids

  • Gonorrhea is a common STI caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
  • It can infect the genitals, throat, rectum, and, in newborns, the eyes.
  • Many people – especially women – have no symptoms, so regular testing is important.
  • Untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility in women, and testicular problems in men.
  • Gonorrhea is curable with the right antibiotics, but some strains are resistant, so medical guidance is essential.
  • You can be reinfected after treatment if your partners are not treated.
  • Using condoms, limiting partners, and getting tested regularly are the best ways to protect yourself and others in Grand Rapids.

If you think you may have been exposed to gonorrhea, or you have symptoms, contact a Grand Rapids healthcare provider or the Kent County Health Department as soon as possible for confidential testing and treatment.