Gonorrhea risk factors


 * Associate Editors-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org]

Overview
Gonorrhea (gonorrhoea in British English) is amongst the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world and is caused by Gram-negative bacterium Neisseria gonorrheae. The term comes from Ancient Greek γονόρροια (gonórrhoia), literally "flow of seed"; in ancient times it was incorrectly believed that the pus discharge associated with the disease contained semen.

Risk factors
Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are among sexually active teenagers, young adults, and African Americans.

You are more likely to develop this infection if you:
 * Have multiple sexual partners
 * Have a partner with a past history of any sexually transmitted disease
 * Do not use a condom during sex
 * Are a man who has sexual contact with another man
 * Have a drug addiction