The Facts
Gonorrhea is the second most common sexually transmitted infection in North America. Only chlamydia infects more people. Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The infection can affect mucous linings in the vagina, cervix, penis, rectum, throat, and eyes.
In 2005, about 340,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported. The rate of gonorrhea infections has declined to about 70% since 1974 when the number of cases was over one million. Gonorrhea rates among women is slightly higher than among men.