Brief Answer:
If you had no sexual intercourse then misdiagnosis is likely

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,

I carefully read your query and understand that being diagnosed with gonorrhea while not sexually active can be quite puzzling.
The bacteria that causes gonorrhea lives only a few seconds outside of a human body, this is why it is considered an exclusive STD. There is no chance of getting it from toilets or towels, thus getting it from the environment is unlikely.

In your case, if you did not have any intercourse (oral, vaginal, rectal) then the only possibility is misdiagnosis.
This may happen if the medical staff does presumptive diagnosis (no tests are done). In this case the patient has symptoms similar to gonorrhea but it is not gonorrhea. Another option is if tests are done and come out with a false positive result, meaning showing gonorrhea but it is not (this is something that may happen with tests).

To conclude:
- gonorrhea infection is an exclusively sexually transmitted disease, it is not transmitted by the environment
- a diagnosis of gonorrhea when you have not had intercourse (oral, rectal, vaginal) then misdiagnosis is possible.

I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.

Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician

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Brief Answer:
Clarification on "false positive report" meaning, and further explanations

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,

Fals positive means the test shows positive but the patient doesn't have the infection. This may happen if a lab mistake happens (confusion of sample) or due to the tests false positive rate (very few tests are 100% accurate).

On the other hand, if you are sexually active, this is a totally different scenario. In a young sexually active male with penile secretions and urinary symptoms and positive gonorrhea test report, it is highly likely this test report is accurate and gonorrhea infection is very likely.
This is because young males are quite unlikely to have these symptoms (penile secretions and urinary symptoms) related to any other conditions, and unfortunately, a positive gonorrhea test is very likely to be true positive in this case.
True positive means the infection is present and the test identifies it.

I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.

Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician

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Brief Answer:
Gonorrhea is not transmitted by the environment

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,

There is almost zero possibility that both of your tests are false positive while you do have symptoms that suggest a sexually transmitted disease (secretions and burning).

As I explained previously, gonorrhea does not live in the environment for more than a few seconds, so it is exclusively considered a sexually transmitted infection. Medical literature says that it can not be taken in toilets or any similar environment as sometimes patients wonder. Thus, medically, I can not say you got from the toilet paper.
Gonorrhea can be transmitted with any direct contact with genitals, even if no ejaculation took place.

I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.

Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician

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